Velebit: Trump’s Administration does not tolerate Kurti’s anti-American and anti-Western policy

The President of the Pupin Initiative, Vuk Velebit, stated that the decision of the United States represents a significant shift in Washington’s policy toward the Western Balkans, but above all toward the Pristina administration, because, as he notes, the Trump administration is making it clear that it will not tolerate actors who are not constructive partners of America and who act against its interests. Velebit says that if Serbia wants to be part of the West, it should look first and foremost to the European Union and the United States, and only then to China, Russia, and other actors.

In a statement for Kosovo Online, Velebit stressed that one should not overly focus on interpreting the timing of the U.S. decision, since unilateral actions by the Pristina administration have been ongoing for several years.

He noted that the decision of the United States marks an important change in Washington’s approach to the Western Balkans, but primarily toward the Pristina administration, because the Trump administration is clearly signaling that it will not tolerate actors who are not constructive partners of America and who go against its interests.

“I have said several times before that Albin Kurti is a man who pursues an anti-American and anti-Western policy, and Washington’s stance is an indication that the Trump administration does not tolerate this and does not want to give support to actors who go against U.S. interests. Their interest in the Western Balkans region is regional stability and prosperity. The Pristina administration acts in direct opposition to American interests. What I would emphasize here is that, although the U.S. Embassy statement in Pristina explicitly mentions Prime Minister Kurti, I believe there is no difference between him and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, because both are actually part of the same mechanism and the same policy of the Pristina administration when it comes to relations with Serbs and the region,” Velebit emphasized.

He pointed out that strategic dialogue means “you have a reserved seat at the table in Washington.” Velebit explained that it is an opportunity to present positions, but also that when a problem arises, “you know who to call in Washington.” He added that strategic dialogue is a structured framework that places relations between America and its partners into a defined structure, where the two states agree on which topics to work on during a certain period, agree on joint projects, and work on further strengthening cooperation.

“And that is why this strategic dialogue, which had also been announced with Serbia and confirmed in Washington a month ago, is very important for Serbia. For the first time, Serbia is raising its relations with Washington to a strategic level, thus completing the ‘four pillars’ policy that began during Boris Tadic’s time in 2009. Washington had been the missing pillar, since Serbia had already established strategic relations with Russia and with Beijing, and of course with Brussels through the accession process. It is equally important that Serbia, in light of major geopolitical changes, pursues a more focused foreign policy, defining its foreign policy priorities and, in line with that, allocating what percentage of cooperation it wants with each of the actors of those four pillars,” said the President of the Pupin Initiative.

Velebit reiterated that if Serbia wants to be part of the West, it should look primarily to the European Union and the United States, and then to China, Russia, and other actors.

“That is why this strategic dialogue with America is so important, and I would say it is a matter of Serbia’s national interest, because in this way, through cooperation with the United States, Serbia can strengthen its international position, improve economic relations with America, but especially in the field of technology and innovation, since the U.S. remains the most developed country in that field. Therefore, if Serbia wants to move forward, we must work most closely with America in that regard,” he pointed out.

Velebit stressed that representatives of the Pristina administration on the one hand try to present themselves as credible partners of America, but on the other hand, Washington contradicts that, because, as he underlined, “you cannot pursue a policy that is anti-American or contrary to U.S. interests in the region and at the same time claim that you are their partner.”

“This is, above all, an important and symbolic step—that America has decided to take such a measure in relation to Pristina. But I think that on the Serbian side we should focus on further developing relations with America, on presenting Serbia as a credible partner in the region, as a country that is part of the solution, not part of the problem. Because in the end, everyone bears responsibility for their actions, as is now the case with the Pristina administration,” Velebit concluded.