Daniel Serwer, professor of the Practice of Conflict Management, director of the Conflict Management Program and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, in an interview to Deutsche Welle, said that the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) cannot block anything in Kosovo and that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 is not a problem.
You just organized at your center a discussion on whether Kosovo will join the European Union. How do you think this can happen when there are still international missions in Kosovo? We know that EULEX will conclude its mission, but UNMIK can block [processes].
UNMIK is not capable of blocking anything. UNMIK has very few staff that work on secretary jobs.
But Resolution 1244 is a problem because without changing the resolution many changes cannot happen in Kosovo.
Resolution 1244 is also not a problem. Resolution 1244 clearly states that a decision is needed on the final status. The United States of America and most European countries and over 100 world countries have decided on the final status. In my opinion, the only obstacle are the five non-recognizing EU member states and Russia’s veto at the Security Council.
What about China’s veto?
Well, I don’t know if China would use the right of veto if Russia doesn’t do so.
Do you recall that China created problems during the 1999 bombing campaign?
Yes, but I don’t think China would create problems. The only obstacle is Russia. Five EU countries that have not recognised Kosovo are not a real obstacle because their cooperation was part of the process of Kosovo’s EU integration. They do not block. It is not for example as in the case of Greece blocking Macedonia. None of the five countries has blocked Kosovo in the EU. They all cooperate with Pristina, have senior representatives in Pristina. For instance, Greece has an ambassador there. And the Kosovo Minister of European Integration just said these five countries will not slow down Kosovo’s EU integration process. So the only true obstacle is Russia. And the key to convincing Russia is Serbia. Serbia has been told reputedly that it will not join the EU if it doesn’t resolve Kosovo’s final status.
We know the position of Russia. What about Turkey? What is it seeking in Kosovo?
I always said I never met a Kosovar that has been to a mosque. Then I met the Mufti so I don’t say this anymore. Naturally there is a Muslim influence in Kosovo, and there are radical people among them. But the government is dealing with them and has the situation under control. Will it always be successful in doing so? No, but they are dealing with this. I don’t see any problem here. To me, bigger problems include corruption, rule of law.
There are differences in the way the EU and the US view Kosovo.
They have the same goal in Kosovo and have made this clear: Membership in NATO and EU. European Union has stalled in the consensus over recognition of Kosovo meaning the EU has difficulties in acting swiftly. The European Union has no single government so it has problems with internal coordination. The EU has a very big influence in Kosovo. When the EU and US put press on a certain direction, things happen. When the EU and US have different positions, things don’t work out very well. But in Kosovo there are scarcely differences between the EU and US. The US wants Kosovo to be ready to join the EU. The US plays a greater role when it comes to Kosovo armed forces, NATO membership. But we are not talking about differences here but rather division of duties.
Do you expect changes in the US policy towards Kosovo?
I do not expect changes but we can never be certain.
