Former senior NATO official Jamie Shea believes that activism in the US Congress regarding the issue of Kosovo's membership in the military alliance should be understood more as setting a long-term agenda than as an immediate impact. He says that this keeps Kosovo in Washington's political attention and creates space for a future opportunity, when conditions in Kosovo-Serbia relations and within NATO itself are more favorable.
"But, frankly, until there is political stability in Kosovo, because three elections in 18 months is not a good sign... so, until there is more stability after the June elections, there is not expected to be a clear path forward in the Euro-Atlantic integration process," Shea tells Radio Free Europe.
Kosovo, in less than a month, will hold its third parliamentary elections within a period of a year and a half, after the previous two cycles failed to produce stable institutions, due to a lack of consensus among political parties.
Shea also agrees that keeping pressure on non-recognizing states is important, but adds that Kosovo cannot rely solely on the US, emphasizing the need for a more balanced approach towards Europe.
"Kosovo needs to have a more balanced lobbying effort and lobby as hard in Berlin, Paris, London or Warsaw as it does in Washington. Relying solely on the United States may have worked in the past, in the 90s, but today it is no longer an effective strategy," Shea said.
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