The former EU special envoy for Kosovo, Wolfgang Petritsch, who was also the chief negotiator for EU talks on Kosovo in Rambouillet and Paris in 1999, says that the image of Pristina in tear gas smoke creates the idea that there is no political stability in Kosovo.
Violence and democracy do not go together. Kosovo has lost a lot of sympathy in recent months. I join the appeals of European democracy, that the use of psychological violence, Molotov cocktails, and brutal prevention of the parliamentary process are punishable acts, Petritsch said in an interview for the Republic.
Petritsch added that the tear gas and Molotov cocktails have scared citizens of the EU, citizens whose support is needed for visa liberalization for Kosovo, and has therefore led to a significant decrease in support for visa liberalization.
“Democratic decisions should be achieved in a peaceful way. Molotov cocktails damage, the already fragile democracy in Kosovo” said the Austrian diplomat.
