Muhaxhiri: By appointing Bajrami, Kurti seeks to demonstrate that he is shaping a strategy in the dialogue

Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri assessed that the appointment of Agron Bajrami as chief negotiator in the technical dialogue on the normalization of relations with Serbia is a tactical decision by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, but that the overall dynamics will nevertheless depend on Kurti’s will.

Muhaxhiri emphasized that Kurti is the “alpha and omega” of the dialogue and that everything unfolds according to his will and plans.
“I believe that by appointing Mr. Bajrami, Prime Minister Kurti wants to demonstrate that he is creating a strategy with regard to the dialogue, that he is actively working on it, as he had been accused of neglecting the dialogue despite strong and persistent demands from the international community for greater engagement,” he said.

Muhaxhiri noted that this is a symbolic signal from Prime Minister Kurti that he is beginning to take the issue of dialogue seriously, and that Bajrami, who is based in Brussels, could, in his view, be highly useful for the process given the experience he has gained over many years of service as an ambassador.
“Nevertheless, I think that in the end everything will depend on Prime Minister Kurti. In other words, only he can determine whether the dialogue moves faster or slower, depending on his preferences and political calculations, particularly with regard to internal dynamics in Kosovo,” Muhaxhiri stressed.

Asked whether he expects renewed momentum in the dialogue, Muhaxhiri pointed out that Kurti has no alternative but to make his engagement more energetic, recalling that he had been largely isolated from the international community, primarily due to his reluctance to become more politically involved in the dialogue.
“He resisted this and showed little interest in recent years. However, this came at a high cost, as he was, one could say, politically isolated from developments and from participation, particularly in European Union-related developments concerning the Balkans,” Muhaxhiri stated.
He also recalled that, as a result, former Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani had been receiving invitations that should have been addressed to Kurti.
“That was a message to him. Ultimately, it is his will, his desire and his decision, but he has no other option. He must become much more engaged in the dialogue and make rational compromises if he wants to place Kosovo on the European agenda,” Muhaxhiri concluded.
The new chief negotiator of Kosovo in the dialogue with Serbia, Agron Bajrami, stated that he will carry out this duty in the service of Kosovo to the best of his ability.
“With a deep sense of duty and responsibility, I have accepted the appointment as Kosovo’s chief negotiator in the dialogue with Serbia. I thank Prime Minister Kurti for the trust placed in me. I am committed to carrying out this responsibility with humility and integrity, in the service of the Republic of Kosovo and to the best of my ability,” Bajrami wrote on the social network X.
During the mandate of the previous Kosovo government, the chief negotiator in the dialogue with Serbia was Besnik Bislimi.