Aliaj: Kurti must renew his approach to Kosovo–US relations

The visit of the President of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, to the United States does not mean that the caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, cannot rely on American support, political analyst Artan Aliaj says, but he notes that Kurti will nevertheless have to renew his approach to relations between Kosovo and the US.

Aliaj told Kosovo Online that Kurti’s political opponents deliberately misinterpreted the recent hearing in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“The Committee did not conclude that Prime Minister Kurti is obstructive. Instead, it was an assessment offered by three witnesses who stated that the US State Department considers his approach obstructive,” Aliaj says.

Still, he emphasizes that, despite that, it is clear that Kurti must adopt a renewed approach to relations between Kosovo and the US, because Pristina cannot afford strained relations with its main strategic ally.

“As American officials and Kosovo’s political leaders have often pointed out, the partnership between Kosovo and the United States goes beyond any individual leader and must be preserved and strengthened,” Aliaj notes.

He adds that the messages coming from Washington inevitably affect the electorate in Kosovo, but it remains uncertain whether this will be reflected in the outcome of the 28 December elections.

“Voters in Kosovo generally recognize that the recent tensions between Prime Minister Kurti and the international community, especially the US and the EU, mostly stem from developments in northern Kosovo and the lack of progress in the dialogue with Serbia. Whether this will affect the upcoming elections remains uncertain. However, judging by the results of the February elections, Self-Determination still represents the strongest political force in Kosovo,” Aliaj said.