Joksimovic: For the US, Kurti is a disruptive factor in the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue

Director of the Center for Foreign Policy Aleksandra Joksimovic stated that for the US administration, the caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti is a disruptive factor, someone who cannot lead the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and that his trip to the US should be seen as an attempt to personally present his views.

Commenting on Kurti’s visit to the US at the same time that Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani was already there, Joksimovic said that he is a “stronger political figure.”

“He is, in political terms, a stronger figure. More power is in his hands, regardless of the fact that there is currently no government. On the other hand, Osmani does carry a certain weight. In that context, I believe Kurti wanted to explain his views himself, thinking that in this way he might soften America’s stance. But I doubt that is possible at this moment,” Joksimovic told Kosovo Online.

The former Serbian ambassador to the United Kingdom believes that, despite Osmani’s photos with Trump, the Kosovo delegation still did not have room for more substantive talks.

“I would say that there were no in-depth discussions, there was simply no opportunity. You know how many world leaders were present, and I don’t believe anyone had the space to deal with this issue in more depth, as it is not currently in the spotlight. But we must keep in mind that it was precisely during Trump’s previous administration that Kurti’s government was brought down thanks to the actions of Richard Grenell. Kurti is considered as someone who cannot lead the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue toward a solution, but rather as a kind of disruptive factor,” Joksimovic said.

She recalled that during Trump’s previous term, the US had “alternative and creative solutions for the Kosovo issue,” but that plan failed due to the lack of “full support from certain European countries.”

“One of those countries was Germany, as well as the United Kingdom. For now, Trump, given the large number of acute global crises, has not yet shown clear positions regarding the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue, nor how he envisions the continuation of this dialogue and America’s role. Whether he will further insist on implementing the Washington Agreement or enter into a new round of creative solutions remains to be seen. But whatever his stance may be, without the EU it will be difficult to reach a solution that would wrap up this issue,” Joksimovic specified.

She stressed that the critical tone toward Pristina will not change the policies of most EU member states, nor of the US, toward Kosovo.

“The way Kurti is handling certain problems is something that has clearly been criticized even among the strongest supporters of independence. But on the other hand, if you ask me whether this will lead to a general change in the stance of those countries regarding their decades-long policy, which is the pursuit of full independence for Kosovo, I don’t think so. Such a policy will not change. Above all, they view it as their own success, and in that context, it is difficult for them to abandon their own policy,” Joksimovic emphasized.