Kurti: I will stand up to blackmail attempts from the West

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced, in a statement to the French agency AFP, that he would oppose all Western blackmail attempts regarding the deadline for reaching an agreement with Serbia.

AFP states that there is increasing pressure from American and European envoys on Pristina to reach an agreement with Serbia.

According to Kurti, Kosovo was now faced with a deadline to reach some kind of agreement with Serbia in March, despite numerous obstacles and disagreements that negatively affected the relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

"The biggest obstacle is Belgrade's insistence and search for a time machine. They want to go back in time, and that is not possible," Kurti told AFP.

According to him, "Kosovo is an independent country, and Serbia should recognize Kosovo", adding that such a move would probably facilitate the integration of Belgrade into the European Union.

Kurti attributed the responsibility for the "impasse" to Serbia, saying that it was an "autocracy, which nurtures close ties with Moscow and continues to destabilize Southeast Europe."

AFP notes that Washington relies on Kurti to give in on key issues and recalls that the US Embassy in Pristina this week requested an urgent start of work on the establishment of the CSM.

In addition, the agency indicates that Kurti did not attend the meeting at the American embassy, which indicates growing tensions with the US, as an ally of Kosovo.

"We cannot be blackmailed. We must not be afraid. We are brave people and what we are looking for is a fair relationship, equal treatment, and mutual recognition," Kurti repeated.

He also said that "it is not fair to put pressure on the most pro-European, pro-American and most democratic country in the Western Balkans", and added that this pressure should be directed towards Belgrade.

AFP also states that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in his address to the citizens, said that he had received an ultimatum from Western countries to normalize relations with Kosovo or face measures that would cause great damage to the country.

"At first glance, it seems that Kurti and Vucic are the most unlikely among the leaders who will reach an agreement, with the president of Serbia publicly calling his Kosovo counterpart a "terrorist scum," AFP states.

"I can talk about the views of the President of Serbia, but not about his level of education," Kurti said.

AFP writes about Kurti that, once called "Kosovo's Che Guevara", he went from an activist who led violent street protests to an uncompromising member of the opposition known for bringing tear gas into parliament, before becoming prime minister.

"Today, he is serving his second term as prime minister, after he won the 2021 elections convincingly and has done nothing to diminish his radical commitment to the defense of Kosovo's sovereignty, while Western diplomats often complain about his stubbornness in private meetings," the agency adds.

"Democracy and the Republic must be defended. This is not easy, but there is no alternative," Kurti said.