Kosovo analysts: Joining the Board of Peace an opportunity to strengthen Kosovo’s international position

Joining the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by US President Donald Trump, is seen by analysts in Pristina as a good opportunity to strengthen Kosovo’s international position, as well as a chance to lobby countries that have not yet recognized Kosovo’s independence, Kosova Press reports.

Analyst Alma Lama says that Kosovo’s participation in the Board of Peace is positive, but expresses reservations regarding the concrete results of this initiative.

“It is good that Kosovo is present as well, but of course, it remains to be seen what and how this initiative will deliver. Whether it will remain just an initiative that produces nothing concrete, or whether it will simply be an initiative that will deal directly with the reconstruction of Gaza. At the moment, nothing is really clear on this issue,” Lama notes.

She therefore points out that the main value of joining the Board for Kosovo lies in the possibility of directly contacting leaders of countries that have not yet recognized its independence.

“It is a kind of good forum for contacting leaders of countries that do not recognize Kosovo and, above all, to ask the United States – although I do not know whether Vjosa Osmani did so at the meetings – to call on countries that are their close allies to recognize Kosovo. This is a good forum for lobbying on this issue. That is the only value I see, because Kosovo will not even have the opportunity to materially contribute in the Middle East,” Lama told Kosova Press.

She nevertheless points out that Kosovo can contribute “with its experience in the process of state-building and managing the post-war period.”

“Kosovo can share its experience in state-building with many countries in conflict, of course if that is requested. It has much to show. Conflicts are different and have different characteristics, but Kosovo had the experience of the United Nations, that is, UNMIK, as an international organization that laid the foundations of the state of Kosovo and managed the post-war situation,” Lama added.

Former diplomat Albert Prenkaj also points out that Kosovo’s participation in the Board of Peace is important, especially because of its closeness to the US.

He emphasizes that Kosovo’s long-term goal remains increasing the number of international recognitions, in order to reach a “critical number of states” that would open the path to submitting an application for membership in the United Nations.

“Kosovo’s participation in this platform and its closeness to the United States has its significance. This platform will, as President Trump says, be able to challenge the UN. Kosovo has aimed for as many recognitions as possible in order to reach a critical number of states that have recognized Kosovo and enable Kosovo to submit an application to join the UN. A closer approach to the US or a return to the US orbit can be seen as something positive,” Prenkaj told Kosova Press.