Faton Hajrizi’s Case Should Not Be Politicized, Radoiçiq Must Be Extradited to Kosovo

International relations expert Akri Çipa spoke to ‘Bota sot’ about current issues in Kosovo, covering the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and mediator Miroslav Lajčak’s actions. Çipa believes that Lajčak has not achieved any significant progress and that replacing him could benefit the dialogue. Çipa also addressed the recent murder of Faton Hajrizi in Serbia and its potential impact on the extradition of Milan Radoiçiq to Kosovo.

Çipa discussed the Kurti government and the upcoming elections in Kosovo as well.

Full Interview

Bota sot: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue mediator Miroslav Lajčak is accused of not presenting both sides’ proposals on the Basic Agreement. What impact might this have on the dialogue and the relations between the two countries?

Akri Çipa: First, it’s worth noting that the dialogue format has practically failed at this point. Mr. Lajčak is nearing the end of his term as the special envoy for the dialogue, and replacing him could benefit the process. Four years into his role, with an initial one-year mandate, there have been no tangible achievements. The current debate about the proposals’ presentation or lack thereof indicates the dialogue is at a standstill.

For progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, either constructive engagement from the parties or a proactive mediator is needed. Both elements have been missing. The dialogue will continue under a new mediator and a new High Representative in the European Union. It’s important to revitalize the process, learning from past mistakes. Simultaneously, it’s crucial for the United States to play a more direct and perhaps imposing role to push the process towards a final agreement between the two countries.

Bota sot: The recent murder of Faton Hajrizi in Serbia is being speculated as an action initiated by President Vučić for his interests. How true could these claims be?

Akri Çipa: The case is significant for Kosovo, and Hajrizi’s escape warrants thorough investigation by relevant institutions due to its impact on the rule of law. It’s also serious for Serbia, as a life was lost there. Given the situation’s complexity and many unknowns, it’s crucial not to politicize the incident. Prime Minister Kurti has emphasized this point.

Different claims about the incident can only be addressed by official institutions. Care must be taken to avoid misinformation and disinformation, especially online and on social media. It would be prudent to have direct information exchanges between Kosovo and Serbian institutions in resolving this issue.

Bota sot: Could this case influence the extradition of criminal Milan Radoiçiq to Kosovo?

Akri Çipa: There should be no link between the recent incident of Faton Hajrizi and Milan Radoiçiq. Radoiçiq faces severe accusations for his criminal and terrorist activities in Kosovo. His extradition should occur regardless of other situations or political contexts between the two countries. This is necessary to clarify an event that threatened regional stability and to prevent similar efforts linked to Radoiçiq’s activities. However, mutual distrust between the countries and Serbia’s political shield for Radoiçiq, for reasons only Serbian decision-makers know, make extradition unlikely.

Bota sot: How do you assess the Kurti government’s current term?

Akri Çipa: In foreign policy, the current government had opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations and establish new, previously untapped connections. Kosovo is in a more precarious international position today. The government has acknowledged this, especially regarding the EU and member states’ actions, which have caused Kosovo international costs. While Kosovo has faced an injustice, simply highlighting this is not a successful policy.

Given the government’s initial foreign policy objectives, there is room for reflection and some disappointment. International developments have surpassed Kosovo, altering parameters it cannot control. Despite this, Kosovo’s foreign policy has been passive and reactive, lacking initiative and strategic approach.

This is evident in the current state of the dialogue with Serbia. While the government addressed a problematic asymmetry in the dialogue’s first half, it failed to present a compelling model for the process’s progression or attract allies and international partners.

Bota sot: New elections in Kosovo are just a few months away. Do you think Kosovo citizens will make changes in governance?

Akri Çipa: It’s challenging to make electoral calculations months in advance. What voters decide will depend on whether the current government can provide a compelling reason for a subsequent mandate or if the opposition can present a convincing governance model to qualitatively improve Kosovar citizens’ lives. There is enough time until the elections for political actors to change many aspects of this equation.

Source: Bota sot