Diverse Stands of Tirana Towards Kostunica

AIM Tirana, October 11, 2000

Optimism, but also increased scepticism towards new president of Yugoslavia

The victory of Vojislav Kostunica and his inauguration for president under pressure of the people's revolt against Milosevic, has not caused great enthusiasm in Tirana like in other capitals of the region and the world. Although there are no diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Tirana since spring last year when Milosevic's regime broke them off in protest because Albania had joined the air campaign of NATO against Serbia, Albanian political circles are aware of mutual significance of bilateral relations. All political parties in Albania reacted immediately and for the first time they expressed in unison a favourable stand concerning the protests of the opposition in Belgrade and departure of Milosevic from power.

In the statement he read on TV, Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta showed cautiousness in sending prompt welcoming messages in the name of Albanian government to the forces of the victorious Serbian opposition in the night of the developments in Serbian capital and stated the stand that the president had to go. President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani and presidents of the main parties in power and in the opposition, Nano and Berisha, approved of the people's revolt and victory of the opposition in Belgrade. One of the signs of significance which the public opinion in Albania attributes to the developments in Belgrade is the fact that for the first time in the past ten years Albanian newspapers devoted their first pages to an international event on the day after the attack of Serbia protesters on the parliament.

Relief felt in Tirana because of departure of Milosevic is explained by the fact that the politics of former Yugoslav president based on conflicts pursued in the course of ten years, but especially his strong-arm politics and the campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, had negative effects both on bilateral relations and on the position and stands of the Albanians in the Balkans.

The stand of Tirana towards new president Kostunica was diverse. If one was marked by the welcoming message addressed to the opposition and its aspirations for democratic Serbia, the other stand expressed scepticism concerning its future politics towards Kosovo and Albania. In political circles in Tirana the reason for restrained optimism is not the lack of knowledge of the politics of the new president, but his known stand towards Kosovo. In their statements all high Albanian officials stressed that Kosovo would be their first criterion in determination relations with the new administration in Belgrade. President Meidani asked the new authorities in Belgrade to offer specific proof of their stands concerning the newly created circumstances in Kosovo. Such stands on Kosovo as a criterion were also stated by president of the Democratic League of Kosovo (DSK) Ibrahim Rugova, president of Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) Hashim Thaci and many other Albanian leaders in Kosovo. They made it clear that for them Kostunica was the president of a foreign country and that they would not agree with any of his efforts to put Kosovo under Serbia.

Politicians in Tirana know very well Kotunica's nationalistic attitudes, but they are focusing their interest only on his position towards Kosovo. They remind that Kostunica split from Tito back in 1974 when he was opposed to giving autonomy to Kosovo and Voivodina by the Yugoslav liberal communist leader of the time. They mention that Kostunica was close to Serb para-militarists who committed the crimes in Kosovo and that he left Djindjic's Democratic Party because he demanded a sharper stand towards Kosovo. Kostunica's pre-election visit to Mitrovica on September 14 was interpreted as a provocation by the politicians in Tirana and Pristina. It catches attention that Albanian political parties in Albania, in Kosovo and in Macedonia were almost unanimous in opposition to Kostunica's nationalistic stands concerning Kosovo, which predicts their equally resolute stands and actions in response to every step Kostunica may take on the road paved by Milosevic.

In the euphoria of victory and extraordinary support expressed in the past few days by the international community, new president Kostunica does not seem to pay much attention to scepticism and mistrust coming from Kosovo. In his pathetic speech after the attack of the protesters on the federal parliament, Kostunica mentioned even Norway as one of the states he believed were significant for Belgrade. However, an analysis of connoisseurs of Albanian-Serbian relations in Albanian capital indicates that Albania is and will be more significant for Kostunica than Norway. Intentionally or not, it seems that Kostunica himself has contributed to this mistrust of Albanian political circles towards him. His bet during the campaign that Kosovo would be a part of Serbia does not seem to be a successful political bet in his relations with the Albanians. The question of Kosovo is the question his predecessor founded his whole political career on, his biggest rise was founded on it, but also his biggest defeat – banishment of Serb military and police troops last year from Kosovo and deployment of NATO in this area. Albanian political forces in the Balkan, with their dispersion and power which often is not so evident, may cause numerous problems for Kostunica, even loss of his bet. All Albanian political protagonists in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia united around Kostunica's stands about Kosovo. Albanian political parties in Kosovo made it clear that their opposition will acquire more radical forms and ways and it seems that the appeal of the head of UNMIK Bernard Kouchner addressed to them on October 7 to “give Kostunica a chance” will not have any success. The phenomenon established during Milosevic's rule among Albanian political parties seems to be repeated, because fear of Kostunica when Kosovo is concerned pushes them towards increased mutual cohesion. One of the veterans of Albanian politics and president of the foreign political commission of Albanian parliament Sabri Godo called Albanian political parties in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia to unite in their common stand towards Kostunica.

President Kostunica should be cautious and not look upon his victory on October 5 in Belgrade as Milosevic looked upon Kosovo Polje in 1989. In this sense it will help him that he proclaimed that the priority he would devote himself to was democratisation of Serbia. But, the truth is that in political circles in Tirana scepticism has not diminished because of the possibility that Kostunica might change after his statement made on the day he took oath when he said in the capacity of the new president: “Kosovo is the disgrace of Europe”. Albanian political circles place their hope in the presence and engagement of the international community, especially that of the USA and NATO, in Kosovo. Political parties in power and in the opposition expressed the stand that Kosovo does not depend on the Serbs any more, but on the countries of NATO. There is some truth in this hope, because neither NATO nor EU would be happy if concerning Kosovo the policy that had forced them to launch the military NATO intervention last year continued.

Among Albanian political parties there is also the concern that with its policy of support to the new regime in Belgrade and its joining the international community the West might prove to be less resolute concerning the future status of Kosovo. This concern was formulated by president of United Democratic Movement of Kosovo Rexhep Qosja who declared himself in favour of cooperation of international community with the new president, but also underlined that it should not make concessions to the detriment of Kosovo and its future.

On the other hand, in an interview to Deutche Welle on October 6, Albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo warned the new president that he had to give up on Milosevic's stands on Kosovo if he wished to remain on the political scene for a long time. What happened to Milosevic who lost power for what he had done and wished to do in Kosovo is a signal that Kostunice must not disregard. Political horoscopes of the leaders in the Balkans are simpler than in other regions.

AIM Tirana

Shaban MURATI