Opposition supports Kosovo’s participation in the Board of Peace; Self-Determination says the issue has not yet been discussed

The caretaker government continues to remain silent on Kosovo’s participation in the Board of Peace initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, but the Self-Determination Movement says that this silence does not mean a lack of support, rather that the issue has not yet been discussed. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have expressed readiness to ratify the agreement as soon as the new parliamentary convocation is constituted, Kosovo Press reported today.

Several days after President Vjosa Osmani attended the ceremony establishing the Board of Peace, Self-Determination—the party that won the most recent parliamentary elections—said it has not yet convened to discuss the matter.

By contrast, opposition parties—the Democratic League of Kosovo, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo—stress that membership in the Board of Peace contributes to strengthening Kosovo’s international subjectivity.

Political analysts assess that the silence of caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti reflects political maneuvering rather than genuine opposition.

As Kosovo Press reports, the caretaker government has for several days failed to respond to questions regarding Kosovo’s participation in the Board of Peace; similarly, the Office of the President has remained silent when asked whether it would invite parliamentary parties to discuss Kosovo’s participation in this international mechanism.

Self-Determination MP Mefail Bajcinovci says the party has not yet discussed Kosovo’s participation in the Board of Peace internally. He notes that Kurti’s failure to state a public position does not mean anything.

“We have not yet held a meeting as the Self-Determination Movement, so I cannot respond at this time. We are a strategic partner of the United States. Silence does not mean anything. As I said, we have not yet met, because we are waiting for confirmation of the election results,” Bajcinovci told Kosovo Press.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) stresses that every international agreement must be handled in accordance with the Constitution and approved by the Assembly.

DPK Presidency member Ariana Musliu says that membership in the Board of Peace could, in principle, contribute to strengthening Kosovo’s international subjectivity, but emphasizes that the party’s final position will be adopted after analyzing the obligations involved and the long-term interests of citizens.

“Kosovo’s membership in the Board of Peace is a step that, in principle, should be viewed as serving to strengthen the country’s international subjectivity and increase Kosovo’s role in global peace and security processes. However, any membership that has the character of an international agreement must be treated with the utmost seriousness and transparency, and in accordance with the Constitution, including approval by the Assembly of Kosovo. We will consider this matter responsibly, analyzing the content, the obligations arising for the state of Kosovo, and the long-term interests of citizens. A final position on support will be adopted by the party’s decision-making bodies after internal discussion. Kosovo needs decisions that strengthen the state, not hasty steps or unilateral decisions without consensus and full clarity,” Musliu said.

Unlike the DPK, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has been clearer in its support for the U.S. president’s initiative. LDK Presidency member Berat Rukići said Kosovo should position itself in the new geopolitical circumstances and that historically standing with the United States has brought benefits.

“We supported this because we believe these new geopolitical circumstances require positioning and that one cannot stand aside. Whenever we have stood with the United States of America, we have benefited from it and have been on the right side of history,” Rukiqi emphasized.

Full support was also expressed by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). Alliance Vice President Pal Lekaj views participation as U.S. recognition and a proper positioning of Kosovo in the service of building global peace, stressing that his party will always support such a course.

“This is recognition by the United States of America and the correct positioning of the Republic of Kosovo to influence peace-building worldwide. That is why we, as the Alliance led by Ramush Haradinaj, have supported and will always support Kosovo’s proper positioning in the interests of citizens and the country,” Lekaj said.

On the other hand, political analyst Adrijan Zeqiri assesses that Kurti’s reserve has more to do with electoral calculations than with real opposition to the initiative, taking into account criticism of the Board of Peace from parts of the Arab world regarding its effectiveness in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to him, Kosovo’s membership in this Board  is expected to pass in the Assembly and does not pose a risk; rather, he considers it a positive step toward Kosovo’s international affirmation.

“We are aware that Kurti is reserved when it comes to statements related to the Middle East. This is not due to Kosovo’s strategic positioning, but to positioning toward Kosovo voters—his electorate. Therefore, he did not want to take a clear stance on this issue, considering that the Board of Peace has faced criticism from the Arab world regarding how effective it will be and whether it will actually stop the war in Palestine. I believe it will pass. This silence is more tactical and electoral than opposition by the government or Kurti to this initiative. Kosovo has nothing to lose from membership in this Board ; on the contrary, it is a good step for Kosovo,” Zeqiri said.

President Vjosa Osmani was among 19 world leaders who last week in Davos signed the establishment of the Board , whose goal is the reconstruction of Gaza after two years of devastating war.

This multilateral initiative includes states from different parts of the world, including seven countries that do not recognize Kosovo—such as Argentina, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan—Kosovo Press recalls.