Arlind V. Bytyqi

There are a number of ways in which one can be less successful than the other. Starting from individual quests for power and influence on others, the ultimate aim (when it comes to state policies) is to show that you are able to speak up, make your strategies known, even when sometimes you lack the proper tools.

The past months have seen an accelerated and well-paced diplomatic battlefield go on; initiated from the Balkans, it was carried out to all continents of the world. Specifically, it is Serbia which has shown interesting skills in foreign policy making, which have been complemented by [perhaps] a slow down in international recognitions of Kosovo’s independence.

Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Vuk Jeremic, a young fellow in his thirties and a Harvard graduate, hit the jackpot in terms of his political career, being Serbia’s chief diplomat. This is thanks to the developments of the previous months. It enabled him to (successfully or not) make himself present in the international arena to a larger extent that he would have under normal conditions. However, that is another story. The point is, this presence of his was not obstructed by anything, or anyone.

In his ‘diplomatic war’, as it has been referred, Jeremic has taken the battle against Kosovo’s recognition to the porches of many states of the world, asking them to put a halt to the widespread recognition of the new Republic. And in some instances, he was successful, probably in the short run, though. Those countries that promised him not to recognize Kosovo’s independence (i.e. Vietnam) will eventually do the opposite in the near future.

But, it’s not about arguing why those countries decided to pursue such a political course. After all, every country has a political agenda and its own state interests, and one cannot hope to interfere in such matters. It is about arguing why Serbia’s diplomatic engagement with international actors was not counter-balanced by heavy diplomatic activities of the State of Kosovo. It is true, Kosovo still doesn’t have a Foreign Minister, but it certainly does have a well-respected and serious Prime Minister.

It seems like Kosovo’s policies towards the international community so far have been exclusively directed from home. Again, it is true, Kosovo does not have embassies in the majority of the countries where diplomatic lobbying could be done from, but it certainly has the capabilities of travelling to all those countries to meet with their representatives.

The recognition process would have unquestionably been more productive had Kosovo launched a more intensive diplomatic activity in that respect. We’re talking exactly the opposite of what Serbia’s doing; same process, just aiming at different ultimate goals.

Analysts believe that Serbia’s success in ‘preserving territorial integrity’ in the light of Kosovo’s independence has been its foreign policy strategy. Even though from the very beginning Serb state leaders have gone through opposition and inabilities to compromise on many issues, the country has had its foreign policy very solid on how to approach the act of Kosovo’s independence declaration.

It will not be long until Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry will start functioning. In order to stop Serbia’s anti-Kosovo-recognition campaign, a whole new set of diplomatic actions should be launched. Given the inexistence of embassies around the world, Kosovo should make maximum use of its lobbying groups. The past has shown that Albanian lobbyists around the globe, especially in the Western world, have been very successful at promoting state interests of Kosovo. Now is the time to take that strategy further, with the Republic of Kosovo as the main, legitimate promoter. Lobbyists must be used as transmitters of Kosovo’s goals in terms of foreign policy implementation, at least until the time when Kosovar embassies will start working in different countries.

It is imperative that Kosovo’s Government realizes what is happening in the international arena; Serbia is fighting big time. We all knew military intervention was unrealistic by the Serb side. But what we failed to see coming was this massive, and at times successful, wave of diplomatic efforts against Kosovo’s independence. Institution of the new Republic of Kosovo must shift tactic, it’s time to fight back, to shatter the balance of the already-created Serb attempts to put a halt to Kosovo’s irreversible act of independence. 

arlindvb [at] newkosovareport.com

Comments (13)

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Regular reader said:

	... http://www.rtklive.com/?newsId=20743 seems like the gov't is listening to Mr. Bytyqi.
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April 25, 2008
Votes: +0

Ron said:

	... Kosovo is just a Serbian province. Independence is illegal. This must be stopped. Let's stop this nonsense as soon as possbile!
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April 15, 2008
Votes: -4

Alex said:

	... Everyone should know that Kosova was a Autonomy in former Yugoslavia, Serbia was one of 6 republics and that was it, at no time did Kosova belong to Serbia NEVER, Milosevic stripped Kosovas Autonomy in 1989 by force with his shameful Army and since then it was claimed as if it was part of Serbia... Serbs should stop fighting the lost war and move on with their life.
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April 10, 2008
Votes: +4

Observer said:

... Godfred, you state that negotiations is the only way towards a peaceful settlement and then agree that independence is irreversible. These two arguments don't flow together, it's either one or the other. When you talk about negotiations, I would like to raise the following question: Negotiations with who? - There cant be negotiations between two parties that disagree from the start, or negotiations between two parties that wont compromise on anything. As for the autonomy, no one is willing to play a risky game. Say Albanians were contemplating accepting it, but who can guarantee them that it won't be revoked in the coming years - just as it did in the past.

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April 10, 2008
Votes: +2

Garf said:

	... Godfred, why would Albanians accept broad autonomy when the same was taken away from them under Milosevic, to later have them killed, perspecuted and massively expelled? and under who, Kostunica, who is no different that Milosevic. let's be realistic when posting comments. G.
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April 10, 2008
Votes: +1

Godfred Louis-Jensen said:

... While agreeing with mr. Bytyqi on the obvious, that Kosovo's "act of independence is irreversible", I would still suggest that renewed - and sincere! - negotiations on the status af that part of Serbia is the only way towards a peacefull settlement. I believe that the Gvt. of Serbia has in fact put forward a proposal for virtually unlimited autonomy for Kosovo, and that this forms a usefull basis for renewal of negotiations. Godfred Louis-Jensen Denmark PS: As a citizen of Denmark, an EU-member country which has unfortunately acted as a US camp follower with respect to recognition of Kosovo, I wish to correct mr. Bytyqi on his assumption, that Kosovo would have "a well-respected Prime Minister" (Sic!). As far as he is at all known to a Western public, mr. Hashim Thaci's qualities are regarded as a highly dubious - to put it mildly (and the same reservations certainly apply to "Albanian lobbyists around the globe" in general).

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April 10, 2008
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Albiqete said:

... Six pivotal themes in Serbian propaganda are : 1. Victimization, in which Serbs were constructed as collective victims first of the NDH, then of Tito’s Yugoslavia, and more specifically of Croats, Albanians, Bosnians, and other non-Serbs. 2. Dehumanization of designated ‘others’, in which Croats were depicted as ‘genocidal’ and as ‘Ustaše’, Bosnians were portrayed as ‘fanatical fundamentalists’, and Albanians were represented as not fully human. These processes of dehumanization effectively removed these designated ‘others’ from the moral field, sanctifying their murder or expulsion. 3. Belittlement, in which Serbia’s enemies were represented as beneath contempt. 4. Conspiracy, in which Croats, Slovenes, Albanians, the Vatican, Germany, Austria, and sometimes also the Bosnians as well as the U.S. and other foreign states, were seen as united in a conspiracy to break up the SFRY and hurt Serbia. In this way, the Belgrade regime’s obstinate disregard for the fundamental standards of international law was dressed up as heroic defiance of an anti-Serb conspiracy. 5. Entitlement, in which the Serbs were constructed as ‘entitled’ to create a Greater Serbian state to which parts of Croatia and Bosnia would be attached, under the motto,’ All Serbs should live in one state.’ 6. Superhuman powers and divine sanction. The Serbs were told that they were, in some sense, “super”. They were the best fighters on the planet, they could stand up to the entire world, and they were sanctioned by God himself, because of Tsar Lazar and the fact that Lazar had chosen the heavenly kingdom. Moreover, since Lazar had chosen the heavenly kingdom, the Serbs, encouraged to view themselves as Lazar’s heirs, were entitled to the earthly kingdom which Lazar had repudiated, as their patrimony.

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April 10, 2008
Votes: +3

strav said:

... The author of this article wishes for many things and even purports to read the minds of foriegn nations and their future intentions. Thats fantasy land stuff. Here are the facts as they stand. Resolution 1244 is still in place and it confirms Kosovo as a part of Serbia. Serbia have not handed over title to Kosovo. An ilegall UDI and subsequent recognition of some states, does not legalise it, know matter how much you wish it. Northern Kosovo is certainly not goverened by Thaci, who has never had control over the North from day one. As it stands, there will be no admission to the UN or other international bodies. Kosovo will be at sea on this, virtually forever. What does Kosovo have? It has Camp Bondsteel, the puppet masters domain. It has soaring crime rates and corruption at every level of government. It has huge numbers of unemployed, I could go on but it would make for depressing reading.

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April 10, 2008
Votes: +2

Tringa said:

... Zoran, Your claim about Albanians fighting through illegitimate methods such as (black-market, criminal activities...) etc. brings to the perspective your lack of knowledge and analysis in this "political" area. It is kind of hard to fight when you are always shut down. And I don’t mean a physical fight but rather a political one. What you failed to mention in your comment was, why couldn't Kosova fight in the past? And that is because anyone - any Albanian intellectual that is, who stepped up the ladder and became someone was immediately put down by the Serbs in kosova. And by "put down" I mean disappeared off the face of the earth, and never heard of again. Albanians were not even allowed to have institutions in which they can study in to become such intellectuals - but they still did in secret manners hiding away from the Serbian government. So maybe if the government of Serbia who claims to have been democratic would have calmed down on their violent and barbaric rule over innocent people, and try to eliminate Albanian intellectuals. Professors and any educated Albanian out of Kosova, than we all know - Kosova would have been free earlier. It would have already been independent. Why were Serbs so determined to eliminate such Albanian intellectuals - because Serbs knew the truth would have came out and been known to the world that Kosova always was , is, and will be ALBANIAN.

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April 10, 2008
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Zoran Paljevic said:

	... B92 is open to Kosovar comments!
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April 09, 2008
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Zoran Paljevic said:

... Oh..,yes-Kosovo is fighting us 40 years,now.In this fight main power comes from narcotics,blackmarket,criminal activities-wide spectrum of those..Albanians never respected our laws,society and values generally..I knew that when I was happy to drink lemonade and eat sweet in Albanian "poslasticara",having Albanian friend in school and buying Albanian products on city-market.This we call "open mind"..,all of us were thinking you're passing a "bad time" and that you'll understand were you are,wich time and date is....At the same momment you were killing serbian soldiers at sleep,putting poison in army kitchen and using every opportunity and method to terrorise Serbian population widely and especially on Kosovo territory.The only day you were nice it was the day you arrived on Kosovo,the day you apply for job or selling something..,or hidding something..Once I was in security structure during different activities it's deffinitely known to me how honest our doing was.Despite the crimes you've commited we never brought you in Guantanamo of some kind in a way USA was practicing in Afganistan,let's say.You were alltogether with Serb criminals,eating same food and having same legal procedure..Nobody was collecting you from the mainroad (USA-ammateurs),putting sacks on your head,leaving you on the sun all day or putting 1000 wats Heavy Metal in the room you were washed frequently with cold water..,let's say...Think about other methods CIA use under the "dirty blanket"...Now you have to be more "intensive in your diplomatic fight" while Jeremic "was sucessfull in a short run and..," to protect your "irreversoble act of independence"..Need boost!? My dear Bytyqi,the "evil soap" of yours is finnishing,like cheap Venecuela-serial!!!(Sorry Hugo,great symphaty to you!).The "short run" was yours dear Kosovars and you just start to realise that.To fight back??WITH WHAT!?YOU THINK THE WORLD IS BLIND!! YOU'RE SHORT..,OF TRUTH!!! (And propper friends..,with expiry date.) Sorry?? No I don't feel that!

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April 09, 2008
Votes: +0

Party time said:

	... Skender Hyseni who will most probably be the future Dardania's Foreign Minister is perfectly able to meet these goals. Plus, we have historical, ethical, legal and moral right with us, this should not be a very big deal to convince the international scene that not recognizing our independence means accepting the fascist actions taken by Serbian gvt since 1960's till 1999
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April 09, 2008
Votes: +2

Arben said:

	... Very well observed. I agree totally! Kosova cannot afford to just wait and hope it must act promptly as would any sovereign nation.
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April 09, 2008
Votes: -2