Rada Trajković, President of the European Movement of Serbs from Kosovo, has criticized Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for allegedly undermining both Serbian and international sovereignty. Trajković accused Kurti of disregarding U.S. recommendations and engaging in actions that threaten the Ahtisaari Plan, which formed the basis for Kosovo’s international recognition, while also warning of potential sanctions on “the more radical elements of the Kosovo government surrounding Kurti and the Interior Minister.”
Trajković described Kurti’s efforts as part of a broader strategy to consolidate Kosovo’s sovereignty at the expense of Serbs and Serbia.
„When Kurti became Prime Minister and his party organization took over, they accepted his statement that he would work on the sovereignty of Kosovo, and he began to do so. This happened gradually, through incidents certainly, but also in agreement with Belgrade. License plates were removed, electricity meters were taken away, Lake Gazivode was lost, Valač was gone, and Serbs themselves left the institutions. This somehow allowed him to implement that sovereignty to the detriment of the Serbs and the Serbian state,“ Trajković said on Novi Dan on TV N1.
According to Trajković, Kurti has started to challenge not only Serbian interests but also international norms, particularly those upheld by NATO. She noted that Kurti’s disregard for U.S. suggestions and his aggressive approach toward the Ahtisaari Plan signal a troubling shift in his policies.
Potential Sanctions and International Response
Trajković suggested that the international community might impose sanctions on the „more radical elements of the Kosovo government“ surrounding Kurti and Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla.
„They are currently announcing… that they will prepare sanctions. They have trained the police. It was quite appropriate before Kurti. After Kurti, they brought in some young people, as Kurti himself mobilized the younger segment of the Albanian population with his sovereignty-oriented politics and strategy. He got into a big problem. I think they will take steps to restrain the police because the Kosovo government is using the police to undermine Kosovo’s constitutional order, according to Ahtisaari. They will find ways to prevent that,“ Trajković said.
She emphasized that there is growing concern among international actors, including the U.S., about Kosovo’s direction under Kurti’s leadership. Trajković pointed out that recent visits by high-level U.S. officials and increased scrutiny indicate a serious international response to Kosovo’s unilateral moves.
“Kurti has directly confronted NATO, leading Kosovo toward isolation. America and Europe have imposed sanctions. The U.S. has not imposed sanctions solely in communications with Kosovo’s security forces; there is still good communication in that area,” says Trajković.
She even adds that the U.S. and Assistant Secretary of State for Euro-Asian Affairs, Jim O’Brien, are warning that “the use of police forces in dealing with internal enemies is something they will not tolerate.”
Trajković also commented on the increased presence of KFOR troops in northern Kosovo, noting that border controls with central Serbia have tripled.
“We have a very serious security situation, with the risk of escalating into a regional conflict. In this context, the international community, especially the United States, will not allow Kurti to carry out… It is evident that they are preparing Osmani to be the one who will take on decentralization, perhaps regionalization of the North, at the very least the Association of Serb Municipalities (ASM),” said Trajković.
Strained Relations and Internal Developments
Trajković commented on the recent meeting between Kurti and Serbian human rights activist Sonja Biserko and politician Nenad Čanak, which she described as peculiar and reminiscent of counterintelligence activities.
„Yesterday, we had a strange mission that resembles some kind of counterintelligence activity… It was so ridiculous, yet actually sad… Is this some kind of story—are there secret meetings with Vučić and public ones with Kurti? We will certainly find out about that, but the whole situation seems like they are motivating Serbs to create panic and cause Serbs to leave,“ warned Trajković.
In response to questions about potential relocations, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed the claims as “short but foolish” and sarcastically inquired whether Kurti would be able to protect the Serbs in Kosovo. Vučić reaffirmed that „Serbs will remain in Kosovo and Metohija despite the wishes of Kurti and other critics“.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
