Gogic: I expect the reactions of the US and the EU to bear fruit; what Kurti is doing is indefensible

The recent statements from the United States and the European Union unequivocally reflect the international community's serious condemnation of Pristina's behavior because the actions of the Albin Kurti Government are indefensible. It is important that these warnings to Pristina bear fruit, political analyst Ognjen Gogic says, who expects the reactions to be followed by actions because there are mechanisms on the ground for that.

However, in an interview for Kosovo Online, Gogic warns that Kurti is not afraid of this fact, but instead provokes both the Serbs and the international community with his actions, posing a risk of a greater escalation of the situation.

"Over the past two years, we have received a large number of statements, appeals, calls, expressions of disappointment, hope, concern... And mostly, it has all remained unfulfilled, primarily from the Pristina side. Therefore, it is more important whether the recent statements will bear fruit, but this really reflects a serious condemnation of the international community toward the behavior of the authorities in Pristina," Gogic said.

He emphasizes that the reactions are now unequivocal because the recent moves by Kurti are truly indefensible, affecting the most vulnerable parts of the Serbian population in Kosovo. Nobody can support or defend this, as it could lead to ethnic cleansing.

Gogic states that with such statements, the international community is raising its own standards and questioning its own credibility because if there is no change in the behavior of Pristina's institutions on the ground, it means that the word of the international community is worthless.

"How will they ensure that Putin listens to them if they cannot ensure that Kurti respects their requests?" he asked.

Therefore, he expects that the warnings and demands of the international community will be followed by actions because there are mechanisms on the ground for that.

"They are present through their missions but also in Kosovo's institutions. They have mechanisms at their disposal to influence a change in the government's behavior in Pristina," Gogic added.

However, he warns that Kurti is not afraid of this because, in his politics, he relies on radicalization.

"Kurti is not afraid to get into conflict with the international community. This is how he started his political activities, even when he was the leader of the Self-Determination Movement. They carried out violent actions against international missions," Gogic reminds.

Therefore, he notes that Kurti is not afraid, nor does he intend to correct anything in his actions. On the contrary, with these moves, he not only provokes the Serbs but also the international community, as if he wants to provoke a stronger response, especially from the United States, and mobilize his voter base on that basis.

"There is a risk here of entering a larger escalation involving not only the Serbian and Albanian sides but also the involvement of the international community that will measure strength with Kurti," Gogic warns.

Considering all the events in the last two days – the raids on Temporary Organs, clinics, the seizure of "Post" vehicles, and four million dinars – Gogic says that the implementation of the Central Bank's decision has evidently started immediately, although there was talk of a transitional period for adaptation to new circumstances, to find technical solutions to ensure the inflow of funds from Serbia for the Serbian population.

"However, Kosovo has still begun to implement the decision and enforce punitive measures, although it was explicitly stated that there would be no penalties and that they would wait with that. In all of this, they have chosen to do it where the Serbs are most vulnerable, where they can offer the least resistance, in the Metohija villages. They were their easiest target. If they had tried something like this in Gracanica or Kosovo Pomoravlje or in the north, they would still have faced greater resistance," Gogic said.

He notes that it can be expected that Pristina will continue to strike where it hurts the most.

"It can be expected that Pristina will raise the bar, and if this succeeds and passes without significant reactions, and if the international community does not stand in its way, they will move on, through central Kosovo, Kosovo Pomoravlje, all the way to the north, with the same moves they made in Metohija," Gogic pointed out.