Mr. David Philips, Head of the Peacebuilding and Human Rights Program at Columbia University, in collaboration with the Southeast European Security Center, led by Republican Party Chairman Fatmir Mediu, organized a forum on the status and Future of Kosovo.
The conference was attended by hundreds of participants from the region, the United States, and Albanian diaspora in America.
Speakers at this forum were:
-Daniel Serwer (School of Advanced and International Studies, Johns Hopkins University)
-Michael Hatzel,
-Vjosa Osmani (Speaker of the Kosovo Parliament)
-Ramush Haradinaj (Former Prime Minister, Kosovo)
-Fatmir Mediu (Former Defense Minister, Albania)
-Blerim Reka (Minister of European Integration, Kosovo)
-Arta Dade (Former Foreign Minister, Republic of Albania)
-Miodrag Vlahović (Ambassador of Montenegro to the Holy See)
-Sonja Biserko (Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia)
Moderated by:
David L. Phillips (Director of the Program on Peacebuilding and Human Rights, Columbia University)
All speakers presented their position in support of Kosovo's independence and its territorial integrity.
Mr. David Philips, who moderated the panel, emphasized that the United States has been on Kosovo's side for its independence and did stop the genocide of Milosevic. Kosovo must clearly define its goals in order to enjoy the support of the USA and the EU.
He declared that has been the supporter of Kosova independence and very against the border change as a great danger for Kosovo and Stability in the region.
He noted that many representatives of the Albanian diaspora in the United States have addressed President Trump with a letter urging Kosovo's sovereignty and reciprocity in dialogue with Serbia, as well as protesting relations with people who do not guarantee lasting solutions.
He stated that Albanians are the best friends of USA and US should continue the support and engagement in the Balkans because of the interest that this region present for US.
Mr. Daniel Serverand and Michael Hatzel, well-known supporters of Kosovo, stressed that changing borders is a dangerous move, to the detriment of Kosovo and stability in the region, and hastening solutions before the US presidential election is to the detriment of Albanians. after considering the weight of Serbs in Ohio an undecided state where Serbs have a considerable electoral weight.
He stressed that the United States should pay close attention to Kosovo and the Balkans, and influence a fair solution, recognizing and appreciating US achievements and interests during the Clinton and Bush administrations, and this should be done in harmony with the EU.
The Trump administration must work with the EU, especially with Germany and Britain, to provide a final solution to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
Albanians have been and remain America's closest allies and friends in Europe.
Vjosa Osmani, Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, stressed that the dialogue with Serbia turned into a relationship and secret agreement of the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia on changing the borders, thus opening the Pandora's box and threatening regional stability. She stressed the need for reciprocity and punishment of Serbia's crimes in Kosovo, which has unfortunately been forgotten.
Prime Minister Haradinaj stressed that; the imposition of the tariff was an important step, which halted the partition of Kosovo, despite heavy pressure from Rama and Thaci and Vucic. I sit in dialogue with Serbia, which has not apologized for the crimes in Kosovo, and this was considered a weakness. Kosovo cannot go back and question what has achieved its independence and territorial integrity.
Unfortunately, the EU has not had a unified position, which has had a negative impact.
He stated that; the change of borders was a firm agreement of the three representatives, Vucic, Rama, Thaci, who together sought to gain the support of the US and the EU.
Minister Blerim Reka emphasized that; No one can question Kosovo's legitimacy. Kosovo's future is the Euro-Atlantic one, and SE must guarantee a liberal government and eliminate state capture. dialogue with Serbia must be based on reciprocity, which is not an act, but the philosophy of a lasting international relationship, a relationship between two independent states.
The President of Human Rights in Serbia, Mrs. Sonia Biserko stressed that; The idea of partitioning Kosovo is an idea of the 1980s, which has been revived by Vucic and other extremist circles, for political interests, and she said she was surprised how the Tirana government agreed to the move to the detriment of Kosovo and stability in the region.
Ms. Dade emphasized the unified Albanian policy over the years, unlike today, in support of Kosovo's independence and regional stability.
Former Montenegrin Foreign Minister Vlahovic noted that Belgrade, in co-operation with Moscow, has not only spoken out against NATO enlargement, but also tried to organize the elimination of President Gjukanovic in Montenegro.
Mr. Mediu stressed that; the geopolitical situation in the region has changed and Russia's involvement in this discussion is to the detriment of the interests of Kosovo and the region.
Any tendency for ethnic states in the Balkans serves Russia to justify its intervention in Georgia and the annexation of Crimea, as well as to halt the EU and NATO integration processes in the Balkans.
Rama's and Thaci's relationship with Vucic has enabled Vucic and Serbia to gain an unfair credibility that they did not have in the US and the EU, and to appear as part of a solution at a time when the opposite is true. His relations with Putin and Russia and China aim to restore Serbian dominance in the region, impede NATO enlargement and annex Republica Serbska from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Kosovo must be unified in its political and institutional stance on resolving its problems with Serbia, and its territorial integrity is being questioned.
In the region, we have corrupt and incriminated governments that resemble Putin's government and not democracy at all.
After the meeting, many participants asked for the periodical organization of this forum for the Future of Kosovo.
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