Hoti: Greater support from Germany and the EU only when Kosovo forms the CSM

Political analyst from Pristina, Afrim Hoti, assesses that Kosovo should not expect greater support from Germany or other EU member states until official Pristina proves its credibility and fully implements everything agreed upon with the EU, including the formation of the CSM.

"In the case of Kosovo and its membership in the Council of Europe, the situation was confusing, and the confusion arose due to the failure to fulfill obligations by both Kosovo and Serbia. Considering this development, it was indeed difficult not only for Germany but also for other countries to push and implement Kosovo's request for membership in the Council of Europe. This, of course, does not mean that Germany does not support the idea. They have only suspended the process until Kosovo fulfills its international obligations," Hoti stated for Kosovo Online.

On the question of whether it is possible for official Berlin to change its stance towards Pristina, Hoti says that it is impossible.

"It is definitely impossible because Germany has harmonized its position together with other EU countries. Therefore, I do not see such a possibility. We might expect greater support from Germany, but that position will follow only when Kosovo proves its credibility and fully implements what was agreed upon," Hoti said.

Commenting on the claim by journalist Michael Martens of "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" that Germany led the way in adopting the Resolution on Srebrenica but did nothing to help Kosovo join the Council of Europe due to divisions within the top of the German administration, Hoti emphasized that Germany had identical positions on both issues.

"Germany's role in the Srebrenica Resolution as well as in Kosovo's membership is very strong. Of course, it depends on the political agenda and priorities. In this case, both Germany and other countries supported the idea of that resolution," Hoti stressed.

As he added, the same principle should be applied to understand the reasons why Kosovo has not become a member of the Council of Europe.

"This is not just Germany's stance, it is also the stance of other countries. All countries are pressuring Kosovo's institutions to now fulfill their international obligations, specifically to accelerate the processes for creating municipalities with a Serbian majority," Hoti concluded.