Baci: Self-Determination has no influence in the countries of the region; Kurti came to power with the idea of "Greater Albania"

Analyst and chief editor of News 24, Agim Baci, commenting on the participation of the Self-Determination Movement in the elections in North Macedonia, assessed that this movement could only have political significance and weight in Kosovo and that it had no impact on the electoral processes of neighboring countries.

Baci believes that Self-Determination and their rise to power in Kosovo can serve as an example to countries in the region but does not hold any real significance when it comes to internal issues.

"Kurti was considerate even toward Albanians in Macedonia, but I think Self-Determination has the correct and strong political format only in Kosovo, while in Albania, North Macedonia, and even Montenegro, it lacks influence. In these countries, there was a tendency to replicate what Kurti did in Kosovo because Kurti's political activities, his views, and some of his ideas are what brought Self-Determination to power. It can be an inspiration for those against the current political class in Albania or Macedonia, who demand a change in this political class. They see Self-Determination as a model, but what happened in Kosovo is the result of a completely different situation," Baci said.

He emphasizes, however, that imitating Self-Determination's rise to power is not a good path and would not yield results in another country in the region. Prime Minister Albin Kurti came to power, he reminds, thanks to the idea of a 'Greater Albania' and the agenda of what to accept and what not from the agreements with Serbia.

However, now, he notes, Kurti is in a political bind since he is compelled to accept an obligation he strongly opposed and which brought him to power – the CSM.

"Imitation cannot yield strong, good, and similar results as Kurti achieved in Kosovo. A political movement, to be successful, must be based on strong ideas, and Kurti had those strong ideas about the future of relations with Albania and Serbia. It is related to his approach to agreements with Serbia, regarding what should be accepted or not. Today, the Prime Minister of Kosovo is in great difficulties, especially due to the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. Kurti had this issue as a political promise in the elections, that he would never accept the Community, but today we have a reversal because the issue has been submitted to the Constitutional Court. We must bear in mind that populist movements, in general, when they come to power, change many laws or do not acknowledge laws," Baci pointed out.

He assesses that Serbia might see the expansion of Self-Determination as a danger for the future, pointing out that his view is entirely opposite.

Baci notes that the idea of expanding the borders of Albania is strong and brought Kurti to power, but no one talks about that idea anymore, not even in Kosovo.

"Of course, I expect Serbia to closely monitor anything related to a possible change of borders, which many Albanian politicians can advocate for, but official Tirana has been very cautious about this issue. I speak for the majority, but also for the opposition. The same is happening in North Macedonia, where there are no politicians who have made statements about changing borders. This is something that should be discussed, a strong idea that can decide a lot about the future of political forces in Albania and North Macedonia, or even in Montenegro. Today, Kurti's idea is not discussed even in Kosovo," he concluded.