Ristanovic: Kurti is pushing KLA because Kosovo is facing deep internal and social problems

Historian Petar Ristanovic told Kosovo Online that the appointment of Andin Hoti as Minister for Family, Labor, and KLA Values is certainly an interesting choice, both because of his political and family history, and that it shows there is no will in Albanian society to reassess the role of the KLA.

“This is certainly an interesting choice because of both his family and political history. The name of his father, Ukshin Hoti, is probably completely unknown to our public. He was a professor at the University of Pristina, a member of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, and at that time, he also held certain political functions in the provincial leadership. At the same time, he was deeply connected with the illegal separatist movement and was a man who advocated armed struggle against the Yugoslav and Serbian authorities at a time when even within the Albanian movement the prevailing opinion was that armed struggle should be left for later”, Ristanovic says.

As our interlocutor further states, Ukshin Hoti was first arrested after the large demonstrations in Kosovo in 1981, later several more times, and after his release from prison in 1999, he disappeared.

“He was most likely killed at that time, which left a mark on Hoti, who certainly cannot be described as friendly toward either the Serbs or Serbia. While he was at the head of the Commission on Missing Persons, Hoti was known for rather extreme statements and a hardline stance, but he is also one of those so-called modern politicians who easily change parties and certain positions, yet he has retained a firm nationalist stance and hostility toward Serbs. He opposes the opening of archives, that is, the reassessment of the role and crimes committed by the KLA. His appointment probably leads in that direction, making it less likely that any reassessment of the historical role of the KLA in Albanian society could take place”, Ristanovic says.

In conclusion, he states that Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s emphasis on the KLA shows the accumulated problems of Kosovo society.

“As a rule, this is a consequence of deep internal and social problems. The authorities then try to redirect attention to other issues, internal tensions are encouraged, and an image of an enemy is created, which in Kosovo are as a rule the Serbs, so I am certain that Hoti will play a role in that entire process”, Ristanovic says.