Maliqi: America is tired of Kurti; the decision of the US is not a surprise

The statement of US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier, i.e. the US decision on sanctions against Pristina, is not surprising for analyst Shkelzen Maliqi, given that, as he said, Washington's reactions in recent days had been very decisive in relation to the uncoordinated moves of the Kosovo government and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

"To calm the situation, it is one of the necessary measures. Previously, Kurti withdrew when he overstepped the measure, or when he was not in coordination with Washington and the EU," Maliqi told Kosovo Online.

He notes that after Ohrid, foreign factors relaxed a bit and returned to the old phase of consultation.

"Now we should probably undertake a diplomatic offensive, in order to come up with some kind of counter-proposal, or some more acceptable proposal for the CSM," Maliqi stated, noting that he was not sure that everything would go smoothly, but that it was a positive scenario.

He says that not everything can be predicted, but he does not believe that further escalation will be allowed.

"Yesterday's protests were also more or less controlled, but it was worrying; KFOR soldiers were also attacked for the first time," Maliqi added.

He believes that the establishment of a foreign protectorate in the north of Kosovo for a year or longer would be a solution to the current situation.

"In order not to wait for two sides that are obstructing everything, the temporary protectorate would create peaceful conditions for all agreements. It is not excluded, and there is no other solution," Maliqi stated and emphasized that then the Special Units of the Kosovo Police would have to withdraw from the north.

According to him, all the actions that have been taken so far in Kosovo since the appointment of new mayors are symbolic and not practical.

"For the elections, everyone said that they were fine, but that it was necessary to reach a political agreement, and not to go immediately to control the territory because there is no control. Even special police units would not be able to control such a territory where there are no Albanians, so they would have to keep the occupying forces there all the time. It's all short-term. That's why the protectorate might be a backup option if no agreement is reached," Maliqi said.

He states that US sanctions should be introduced on both sides.

He also points out that the US is fed up with Kurti.

"Kurti never listened to the advice of the Americans. Only in the end, when there is no effect, he withdraws. Kurti emphasized that he was ready to sign the Ohrid Agreement and declared himself the winner, but he was never ready. He always set traps and insisted on some things for which he should have waited. Work should be done on the CSM so that the Serbs in Kosovo know what they are doing. There will be no executive power, but some executive matters may be transferred. The demands of Belgrade and the Serbs are greater than anticipated agreements from 2013 and 2015," Maliqi said.