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President Obama and his expertise on demarcation (Koha)

By   /  18/07/2016  /  No Comments

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Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj writes in an opinion piece that judging from statements made by politicians in Kosovo, U.S. President Barack Obama is more concerned about the fate of some pastures and mountains along the Kosovo-Montenegro border than about the killing of police officers and street protests in the U.S., the chaos in Turkey following the coup attempt, the fight against terror, the NATO Summit or the U.S. presidential elections. “Instead of worrying why they cannot solve a single problem without international intervention, they [Kosovo politicians] take pride in the formal support expressed by foreign politicians … In their efforts for the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro, the ruling political leaders in Kosovo most often mention as an argument that ‘even President Obama has supported this agreement’ and claim that whoever is against the agreement wants to isolate Kosovo’s people. The ‘demarcation issue’, which was become a serious problem for all of Kosovo, is a result of the arrogant behavior of the government … By signing the agreement with Montenegro in Vienna one year ago, the Kosovo government has created several problems instead of resolving an issue. In addition to creating chaos in the local political landscape, the government has endangered relations with Montenegro and visa liberalisation for the people of Kosovo”. Palokaj further notes that there was no political or public debate on the agreement before it was signed. “Thaci and Mustafa believed they would get the necessary support after they signed the agreement. In doing so they have insulted the opposition, the Assembly and the public. EU diplomats say that the President and Prime Minister constantly tell them that they ‘have the necessary votes’. This is why there is increased frustration why the agreement is not being ratified in the Assembly given that they have the votes. Even the EU is now skeptical that they have the required votes in the Assembly”.

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