Joseph: Kurti is doing everything contrary to what was written in the New York Times, closing post offices undermines peace

Professor Edward Joseph of Johns Hopkins University in Washington pointed out, regarding the closure of Serbian Post offices in northern Kosovo on August 5, that Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti is taking actions contrary to the positions he expressed in an op-ed for the New York Times a month earlier. Joseph stated that the closure of Serbian Post offices in the north undermines peace.

Therefore, he called on Kurti to cancel what he did on August 5 and to "return to the spirit of July 5."

Joseph noted on the social network "X" that Kurti, in his New York Times piece, made "several wise observations," including that "peace is hard work and dynamic – it must be constantly maintained," and that "conflict in the Balkans... attracts foreign players to this historically significant geopolitical frontier, jeopardizing Europe’s security," and that "it took courage for Serbs to join the institutions and become active participants in the country."

Joseph, however, asserts that Kurti's unilateral and uncoordinated actions with the U.S. in northern Kosovo on August 5 are contrary to his own stated positions.

"The closure of Serbian Post in this manner undermines peace. Such raising of tensions serves the interests of Russia and Serbia. Provocative actions make it significantly harder for Serbs to join Kosovo's institutions and become active participants in Kosovo's democracy," Joseph said.

On the other hand, he noted that Kurti's recent actions confirm an observation from his article – that NATO's role in Kosovo, a quarter of a century after the intervention, is more crucial than ever.

"The strategic interests of Kosovo lie in advancing towards NATO membership, not leaving the country as a permanent protectorate of the Alliance. Prime Minister Kurti, I urge you to cancel what was done on August 5 and return to the spirit of July 5," Joseph stated.