Document reveals the origin of “Mini-Schengen” and manipulations of Albanian PM Edi Rama

Gazeta Express

24/12/2019 15:39

Gazeta Express got hold of a cablegram revealing the origins of the initiative known as “Balkans Mini-Schengen”, an idea that Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania are trying to implement. Kosovo is resisting the idea saying the principles of the agreement are to the detriment of the state interests. Based on this document, behind the idea is Foundation for Open Society of billionaire George Soros. The idea was inked to letter, by Victoria Nuland, former US State Department senior official, and Alexander Soros, the son of the famous billionaire, has pushed forward the project.

Gazeta Express got hold of a document showing that the initiative promoted by Albanian prime minister Edi Rama, Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic and North Macedonia prime minister Zoran Zaev is not sponsored by the US or EU, but was initiated by a billionaire. The United States reportedly support this idea only in principle, but as the US officials have stated, only if the initiative is inclusive. In a document of the Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which Gazeta Express got access it is stated that the “initiative was launched by Victoria Nuland (former senior official of the US State Department) currently engaged in the private sector and was sponsored by the Foundation for Open Society, namely by Alexander Soros.”

Further in the document is emphasised that intensive preparations on implementation of this project started in September 2019, and highlights Nuland’s and Soros’s meetings in Tirana, Belgrade and Skopje. The document also highlights political threats Kosovo might face if the project is fully implemented. In this document is stated that the “Mini-Schengen” gives Serbia an opportunity to be proved as a constructive factor in the region without fulfilling any obligation towards Kosovo. Further it is recommended that Kosovo to counter this initiative by increasing cooperation with Albania and Montenegro considering that Podgorica has refused or is reluctant of join the project. “If Kosovo does not react timely, there is a real danger that mutual recognition, as a final product of Kosovo-Serbia agreement, be replaced with equal representation in similar platforms. This would enable Serbia to progress in its European agenda without recognising Kosovo,” it is written in the document. Also Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns the “Mini-Schengen” would harm Kosovo’s economy.

“Balkans Mini-Schengen” has strained relations of Albania and Kosovo. Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama, in addition to attacks against Kosovo leadership for boycotting a meeting of the regional leaders held last week in Tirana, said that Serbia has accepted to implement the idea without any condition, which is a disinformation, considering that Serbia would never accept Kosovo’s statehood under this format, starting from even symbolic steps, such as exposing of Kosovo flag, whereas Kosovo officials would not be allowed to travel to Serbia to attend the “Mini-Schengen” meeting. As Rama was hosting regional leaders, Alexander Soros reportedly stayed in Tirana, who over the last few months was involved in a “shuttle diplomacy” in the region, flying from Belgrade, Pristina and Skopje. But it seems that Soros’s diplomacy was not successful. Kosovo has rejected the invitation to attend the Tirana meeting. Kosovo president Hashim Thaci in a Facebook post said Kosovo’s participation in that format is meaningless considering that Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina refuse to recognise Kosovo as independent state and reminded that Serbia continues to undermine efforts on consolidation of the Kosovo’s statehood. Kosovo’s outgoing prime minister Edi Rama, said all this project is aimed at convincing Kosovo to revoke 100 percent tax introduced by his Government against all Serbian goods. Albanian PM Rama reacted to Haradinaj’s statement calling Haradinaj “a liar.” /GazetaExpress/