Who is bothered by Gabriel Escobar?

The campaign against the special representative of the State Department for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, which has been conducted for some time through the pro-Albanian Internet portal Frontliner, registered in London, and whose editorial policy interestingly coincides with the views of the current Kosovo government, continued with undiminished ferocity, despite the fact that the experienced American diplomat announced a few days ago that at the end of May, according to the regular official rotation, he will move to a new position.

Written by: Milos Garic

Frontliner's bombastic accusations of alleged corruption involving Escobar, which mention his wife and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, for which they say he was in fact removed, have been absolutely denied by the US government. Nevertheless, the editorial staff of this media continued, with a striking headline that gives the topic a new dimension - "Under Siege: The US Attack on Independent Journalism in Kosovo".

Frontliner, according to editor Vedat Dzimshiti, conducted its own investigation into Escobar. "The revelations were ready to cast a shadow on Escobar's neutrality in the sensitive dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, a role that requires impeccable impartiality given the difficult history of the region and the delicate balance of peace," the text reads, challenging the credibility of the State Department's denials and highlighting "the vulnerability of the media." before the powerful political and diplomatic machinery".

Therefore, the pro-Albanian Frontliner based in London expresses strong doubts about the neutral involvement of Gabriel Escobar, about his moral qualities, but also about the politics of the current American administration in general. Admittedly, this is not the first time editor Jimshiti has quarreled with people from Washington. Recently, on the pages of Koha, he also fiercely called out the American ambassador, Christopher Hill, for his statement that he was sorry for the destruction of Serbia by NATO bombs in 1999. In his sudden anger, Džimsiti forgot the ambassador's former support for the KLA fighters, the trip to Junik with Holbrook and the engagement in Rambouillet.

However, only in one of the previous articles, when asked by Frontliner about the activities of Gabriel Escobar, did Albin Kurti speak up personally. He refused to make a specific statement, but directed the journalists of the portal in question to present all doubts and questions to the State Department and demand answers.

It is a very interesting coincidence that the whole thing is happening at a time when serious criticism is coming from the USA about the state of media freedom, corruption and the judiciary in Kosovo, which is quite contrary to the proclaimed narrative about the high reaches of Kosovo's democracy, which Kurti often pushes. Admittedly, the policy of the current Kosovo government to a large extent still has the strong support of Western allies, including Washington, so this can testify to the not very good state of communication links in the American administration.

However, the question arises as to how the team from Frontliner came up with the idea of conducting an investigation on Gabriel Escobar. What made them go to "war" with the US government? What is the role of Albin Kurti in this?

It's no secret that Kurti has been having problems with relations with high American representatives in the Balkans for a long time. Insiders say that the leader of the Kosovo Albanians across the Atlantic is treated as an unreliable and extreme politician, with a Marxist-Leninist profile, who does not keep his word and is prone to wayward behavior. What is his trump card in the whole story, and what Kurti is absolutely aware of, is the effect he achieves by carrying out numerous brutalities against the Serbs in Kosovo. And that effect is threefold. In this way, it helps the Western allies to constantly raise the pressure on Vucic and Belgrade, prevents the implementation of obligations from the agreement, and provides the Albanian voters with the necessary portion of national satisfaction.

In the circumstances where Kurti can only defend his political position among the Albanians with an extreme policy towards the Serbs, because he has not done everything he promised for a better life in Kosovo. return of land to Visoki Decani monastery.

He agreed to do the latter with much displeasure, thinking that it would be enough to satisfy the Western sponsors, but he has no intention of abandoning the blockade and demolition of the CSM. It is a personal thing for Kurti, a kind of life's work. Berlin and London give him full support for that position, while, at the insistence of Serbia, in Washington they understand that the formation of Serbian self-government from the Brussels Agreement is a reasonable request. And here we come to the story of Escobar. CSM is a "sin" that Kurti, apparently, cannot forgive. There are still fresh memories of the American diplomat's sentence: "The community of Serbian municipalities will be formed with or without Kurti", although almost a year has passed since it without a concrete result.

Of course, it is not easy for the Albanian media in Kosovo to openly attack people from Washington. It's much easier to do it from London.

The Frontliner dragged Escobar through the mud with his investigation and "findings", although already at the end of his term, but the accusations against him can be an inconvenient mortgage and a burden for whoever succeeds him. Extreme Albanians do not like restrictions, and they especially do not tolerate warnings for disrespecting Serbian rights. Especially when they come from the US. The belief that America will always be ready to support them and stand up for Greater Albania's interest, apparently gives some people the freedom to hit the "scumbags" and those from whose hand they ate - yesterday Hill, today Escobar, tomorrow maybe even Biden himself.