The political leader of the Euro-Atlantic coalition, Lulzim Basha, has assessed that Kosovo must do everything possible for NATO membership in light of the circumstances created after Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States.
Basha stated that NATO membership for Kosovo would resolve its sovereignty and territorial integrity issues.
“We have an extraordinary opportunity, with Kosovo’s NATO membership, to put an end once and for all to the issue of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo across its entire territory,” Basha said on Teve1.
He added that Kosovo’s membership in NATO would relativize the issue of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities.
“For this to happen, Kosovo must be prepared to take certain steps that are expected of a country committed to NATO membership. Resolving this issue, while also taking on the challenges and the non-recognition of four NATO member states, has a path if there is the will. It would relativize or place in a different dimension issues such as the rights of the Serbian minority in relation to the Association of their municipalities. Once you choose the issue of territorial integrity and state sovereignty above every inch of your territory, such issues take on a different dimension. In this way, I think we could break the impasse created due to Belgrade since 2013,” said Basha.
He also stated that Kosovo, in terms of democracy, is a model for other countries in the Western Balkans.
“Considering not only the most recent elections, I must say that Kosovo is a lesson in democracy for the autocrats of the Balkans. It is the Balkans, it has its problems, but my heart swells with pride that a country with just a decade and a half of independence manages to give lessons not only to Belgrade, but also to Sarajevo, Skopje, Podgorica, and Tirana when it comes to the foundation of democracy, which is the organization of free and fair elections and the non-contestation of election results,” he said.
