Spahiu: Kurti will form the CSM, otherwise the West will remove him from the PM position

Political science professor Nexhmedin Spahiu claims for Kosovo Online that Article 7 of the European proposal will be implemented despite criticism from the opposition and that greater autonomy for Serbs is "the price Kosovo will pay for recognition by Serbia."

"Actually, that point is barter for recognition because the German-French plan is a de facto and de jure recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. That article talks about the recognition of national symbols and not just symbols, because when Serbia recognized identity cards, it also recognized symbols, but as symbols of the temporary institutions of Kosovo. This plan says that Serbia will recognize national symbols, implying de facto and de jure recognition of the Kosovo nation," Spahiu explains.

In his opinion, Kosovo will have to accept greater autonomy for the Serbs in Kosovo in return.

"Article 7 is the price that Kosovo will pay for recognition. That means greater autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo compared to what the Constitution of Kosovo and Ahtisaari's plan provide them. Previously, this only referred to autonomy in culture, education, and healthcare, while now that autonomy will be greater, and how much greater it will be, will still be discussed. There is also mention of the formalization of relations with the Serbian Orthodox Church in the same article, as was done by all the countries of the former Yugoslavia. In essence, this would also mean the recognition of the Kosovo state by the Serbian Orthodox Church," Spahiu points out.

Spahiu reminds that the debate in the Kosovo Assembly on the European proposal was not constructive or fruitful because the opposition in the assembly focused on Kurti's earlier views rather than the proposal itself.

"Everyone attacked Kurti for changing his opinion, while Kosovo's interests and the Franco-German plan were not discussed, despite the fact that they should have been. They dealt with his opinion, not whether he changed them in a negative or positive direction. I certainly think that this will not affect the further development of the situation regarding the implementation of the Franco-German plan," Spahiu says.

Spahiu believes that the opposition has a plan to depose the current Kosovo prime minister but evaluates that they are attacking where Kurti is the strongest.

"I doubt they will achieve anything because they attack his strong side, not his weak side. They don't attack him for not building roads, for the fact that there was no progress in healthcare, culture, or the economy, but they attack him where he stands firm, which will not be fruitful for them," Spahiu claims.

Spahiu does not doubt that Kurti will establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, but he thinks it will only happen after Serbia recognizes Kosovo.

"He will have to form and will form the CSM, but it all depends on negotiations and the order of events. I believe Kurti will not agree to the formation of the CSM before Serbia recognizes Kosovo, or that these two events happen simultaneously," Spahiu claims.

According to Spahiu, Kurti would jeopardize his power by possibly refusing to form the CSM.

"He will have no problems with the opposition if he forms the CSM, and if he becomes a hindering factor in the further development of negotiations with Serbia, the West will remove him from the position of prime minister. I think he will form the CSM," Spahiu concluded.