Kraus: Kosovo is a failed story; The Austrian government should not congratulate it

The head of the parliamentary group of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) in the Vienna parliament, Maximilian Kraus, believes that Kosovo has not been a success story even 18 years after declaring independence and, in his view, the Austrian Government should not congratulate Pristina on February 17.

“I do not believe that 18 years of so-called independence of Kosovo have been successful,” Kraus told Kosovo Online. He was recently awarded the Order of the Serbian Flag, Second Class, by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Kraus pointed out that Kosovo still faces a high level of organized crime, as well as numerous structural problems.

“Kosovo is certainly not a success story, and therefore, as a state, Austria should not congratulate this date,” Kraus said.

He expressed gratitude for the decoration he received from the President of Serbia.

“It is a very nice gesture. The Freedom Party has always strongly advocated for the Serbian community in Vienna and in Austria, which is very well integrated,” Kraus stated.

He added that his party has consistently and clearly maintained the position that Kosovo is part of Serbia.

“The position of the Freedom Party of Austria is that Kosovo is part of Serbia. Austria and Serbia share a similar identity; we are connected by a Christian bond. The decoration I received today is an expression of respect for what our party is doing,” Kraus said.

Maximilian Kraus was decorated on the occasion of Serbia’s Statehood Day for his outstanding contribution to strengthening and fostering friendly relations between Serbia and Austria, as he actively promotes and enhances understanding of Serbia’s positions within the Austrian political sphere and public.

He is not the first member of the Freedom Party of Austria to receive a Serbian state decoration. Last year, President Vucic awarded an order to Harald Vilimsky, head of the FPÖ delegation in the European Parliament.