James Hooper, former U.S. diplomat told Voice of America that with their position on tax, Kosovo leaders have almost made enemies from the government of the United States. He assessed this as the most counterproductive step undertaken ever by Kosovo leaders. “They brought the relations with the United States at the lowest level ever since the end of the war in Kosovo. With this decision, they have almost created an enemy from the government of the United States,” he said.
“Kosovo was in the position of empowerment, while the dialogue process with Belgrade was ongoing and now, they have thrown away that powerful position, created an opposition with the United States for which there was no need to exist at all,” he said.
“They have now caused a public spectacle for which the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of State and National Security Council have gathered in a manner which I have never seen in the history of the U.S. diplomacy, to warn Kosovars that they should suspend the tax,” he said.
“To be honest, to me this is a very narrow, very provincial way of thinking, and this is very dangerous for Kosovo, very dangerous. Kosovo cannot allow itself to fall into the pleasure of thinking in a nationalist manner,” Hooper added.
