Smajlovic: The outcome of Escobar's visit could lead to a significant step towards Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe

Journalist Ljiljana Smajlovic assesses for Kosovo Online that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has an "excellent tactic" of making unilateral moves, around which he later negotiates with Western allies, so in this case, he could be rewarded "for doing something after ten years of disrespecting his own Supreme Court".

"I think Escobar showed concern for the Serbs in Kosovo, which Pristina knows is performative, and I don't believe they were overly scared by that. I believe the message will remain that Pristina made a big concession to Escobar by saying it would respect the decision regarding Decani. From this, we see Kurti's excellent tactic with both the Americans and Europe. He does what he can, making more and faster unilateral moves, then negotiates with Western allies. And when, after ten years of delay in implementing the decision on Decani, he makes some concession there and is rewarded, it's like he's done something after ten years of disrespecting his own Supreme Court. The outcome of Escobar's visit could mean that Kosovo has dramatically moved closer to entering the Council of Europe, which is an incredible success and political coup. There's still a possibility that the Quint says - you can't join the Council of Europe until you establish the CSM, but I would be surprised if that happens," Smajlovic said for Kosovo Online.

She added that not only Belgrade was waiting for November and the outcome of the presidential elections in the United States, but Kurti was also waiting for that.

"He is waiting for that with even greater fear than Belgrade. He must dread not only Trump's reelection but also the return of Richard Grenell to some important position in the US administration. He knows that it's a very risky situation for him. He does what he can, more steps like abolishing Cyrillic signs, and the dinar, which, if it comes under intense US pressure, he can then make small concessions, one step forward, two steps back, to return something that he never dared to do based on dialogue with Belgrade, but then he acts like a man who compromises, who is ready for dialogue. When we Serbs hear that something is a humanitarian issue, we remember that we were only bombed in 1999 for humanitarian reasons and we listen very carefully. I think it's just a patronizing pat on the back of the Serbs, but in fact, Pristina knows that the well-being of the Serbs in Kosovo is not the top priority for Americans. I believe Escobar told Kurti 'We don't like this or that of what you did, and we will do something to you.' Remember that the US Ambassador to Kosovo said a pretty strong sentence six months ago - your house is on fire, you have to deal with it. When you look, half a year has passed, and nothing has happened, there was no pressure," she says.

She says that the situation with real US pressures can be seen in the example of Hungary, but not Kosovo.

"We can now compare this situation in Kosovo with the US pressure on Viktor Orban because both Budapest and Pristina are American allies. We can now precisely follow the anger of the Americans towards Viktor Orban, who dared to go and talk to Trump and publicly express his wish for him to be president. That's real anger, and to him, the US Embassy says - allies cannot behave like this, you are waiting for the mandate of this administration to expire, but we won't wait, we will show you. That's when Americans are furious with one of their allies, and what Escobar does, he meets with various people, those are crumbs from the table," she emphasizes.

She believes that the European Union has not lost its influence on Pristina.

"I don't think the EU has lost its influence; I think the Germans have much more influence on Kurti himself than the State Department, but this is also a concession to Escobar. It turns out that Kurti really respected Escobar, he will do something about Decani, and he showed that the US is an ally they listen to. If the Germans wanted to press Kurti, they could do it regarding negotiations, but they will not. And here Escobar is respected, which I consider performative," Smajlovic says.

She assesses that it is possible that Escobar requested something from Kurti.

"He still uttered some sentences that show concern for the Serbs in Kosovo; I expect Kurti to do something minor, which will again be followed by something terrible. I am sure there will be some concession, extending the deadline for the dinar to make it seem like Escobar had an effect and his visit to Pristina. The dynamics have been clear since Kurti was seriously threatened; nothing has happened, and he procrastinates just like we do in some other way. Everyone knows that the presidential elections in the US are coming, everyone is waiting for that, and everyone is making moves accordingly. Look at Zelenskyy, China, and Taiwan, everyone is doing it, we're all in the same game, and we all have different fears and hopes regarding the US elections. The situation is riskier for Kurti. Escobar also had those meetings with local Albanians and is already hinting that they are considering who they could work with. For Americans, it's not so much about punishing Kurti for the Serbs, but Washington cannot allow someone they consider an ally not to listen to them. Pristina must show that it is possible to subordinate to the US and do what the US says. Kurti has been very successful in that so far; he has built his political identity on being able to oppose Americans, which is why people vote for him, and why he has great support. In my opinion, he doesn't have to be afraid of Escobar at all," Smajlovic concludes.