Austrian diplomat and former Rambouillet negotiator Wolfgang Petritsch delivered a strong message to Kosovo, stressing the urgent need for political stability, democratic governance, and a reset of dialogue with the European Union.
In an interview with “Info Magazine” on Klan Kosova on Sunday, Petritsch said he was deeply disappointed when the EU imposed sanctions on Kosovo three years ago.
“I can tell you that when sanctions were imposed on Kosovo, I was not happy at all, to tell you the truth,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that recent political developments have made the concerns in Brussels more understandable.
“Now, almost three years after the sanctions, in such a stagnated phase of Kosovo’s democratic development, I understand the critics in Brussels better than I did before.”
Petritsch emphasized that Kosovo faces a fundamental prerequisite for moving forward: the creation of a stable and democratic government after the December 28 elections.
“All we can hope for, or all I can hope for, is that Kosovo will produce a result after the December 28 elections that will allow political parties in Prishtina to form a Government,” he stated.
He urged Kosovo’s institutions to stop being a problem for Europe and instead become a source of stability in the region.
“You must move away from being a problem for Europe. You need to become part of the solution to a problem in Europe, especially in the Balkans. You must continue the dialogue. Perhaps a new approach is needed, but the main precondition is the existence of a democratic and vibrant government.”
His statements come at a critical moment for Kosovo’s political future, just weeks before elections expected to shape the country’s next direction.
