Sutanovac: Rama feels the need to show he's a greater Albanian than Kurti

President of the Council for Strategic Policies and former Defense Minister of Serbia, Dragan Sutanovac, says he doesn't believe that anyone in Tirana "with even an ounce of intelligence" thinks in terms of someone planning to attack Kosovo, which is why he views the statements from Albanian officials, implying that such a scenario might occur, and Edi Rama's message that any attack on Kosovo is an attack on Albania, as serving internal needs and rousing emotional fervor among citizens, both in Kosovo and Albania.

Sutanovac interprets Rama's statement, pledging Albania's support for Kosovo even if things escalate to the use of weapons, as part of an internal struggle over who will lead all Albanians.

"Albin Kurti's ambitions extend far beyond Kosovo and Metohija, they endanger security across the entire region. His policies toward Serbs, which practically initiate the gradual exodus of Serbs, are just part of what he intends to do. His party's political program clearly states support for a 'Greater Albania.' Until he became prime minister, and even for a while afterward, the Albanian flag was always behind him during interviews. So, he wants to establish a new Albanian state, which is probably the aspiration of many Albanians in the region. However, what's interesting and what his personal desire is – is to be the unifier and leader of all Albanians. In this light, Rama feels the need to respond to his aspirations by showing that he is a greater Albanian," Sutanovac says.

He reminds that Albania is in NATO, and NATO forces are present in Kosovo under the UN mandate, i.e., KFOR.

"Serbia definitely has no military aspirations to conquer or liberate that area by force, regardless of how one defines it, and it all boils down to rhetoric aimed at stirring emotions among citizens, both in Kosovo and Albania, and diverting attention from the real problems that exist in Kosovo and Albania. I don't think anyone in Tirana with a modicum of intelligence thinks in terms of someone planning to attack Kosovo. Serbia certainly doesn't," Sutanovac emphasizes.

Therefore, he sees the rhetoric of some Albanian politicians as aimed at raising tensions on national grounds and emotions.

"This chest-thumping about how they'll save each other is actually their internal struggle over who will be the leader of all Albanians, as they announced at a rally in Tetovo last year, where they said Kurti is the prime minister of all Albanians worldwide. I'm sure that was the trigger for Edi Rama to show that he is a greater prime minister of all Albanians worldwide than Kurti," Sutanovac says.