This paper’s Brussels based correspondent, Augustin Palokaj, writes that seven years after the declaration of independence, Kosovo is in a status quo position in relation to the European Union and NATO, despite the fact that the latter liberated Kosovo. Describing a situation when his international colleagues in Brussels wondered who Isa Mustafa was, since the NATO notification mentioned only his name while informing the media about his meeting with NATO Secretary General, as well as examples when the EU maps show Kosovo as part of Serbia, or uses only the names of the capital cities, Pristina and Belgrade, when referring to the dialogue, Palokaj notes that even though this is only a symbolic, it proves that Kosovo’s status in the international arena is unfinished.
The dialogue which is taking place in Brussels has created two realities: one that Kosovo is not part of Serbia, that it has its own territory, even though not completely recognized internationally, and the other that the Kosovo government is content that the state that they lead is not like all the other states and that Belgrade has to give its consent for each step made.
Palokaj considers that Kosovo officials are invited in Brussels only to meet and agree with Serb politicians. “During the last seven years, so much attention and energy has been focused on the dialogue with Serbia, that all the other work and concrete reforms that would facilitate the lives of the people and help economic development, have been left aside.”
The international community only concludes the situation in its reports that political structures are corrupted and correlated to the organized crime, however focused only on their priorities, such as political stability and prevention of interethnic conflict, they have forgotten the other priorities. Kosovo people are disappointed with the international community, especially when EULEX, which was supposed to fight these phenomenon, ended themselves under investigation for corruption, violated even the freedom of press, and it is now fighting to save its own reputation. Kosovo politicians are aware that if they make compromises with Serbia, they will have credit at the international community in other fields.
