Interviewed by: Leonard Kerquki
Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Pristina, Anu Prattipati, says Kosovo is missing out on opportunities as a result of the political stalemate in the country. In an interview with Gazeta Express, she said that the Trump Administration “is looking for strong allies” with whom to advance shared priorities and that opportunities to strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries “may go untapped if this stalemate continues.”
The American diplomat said that a country without key institutions and with "an uncertain path to their creation" is a partner that the US cannot "always fully rely on."
Prattipati said that "Kosovo's leaders were elected to solve the challenges facing their country" and that the political impasse must be resolved by them. "The United States can offer support, but it cannot make the choices for the leaders or the people of Kosovo."
For the partnership with the US to "flourish," the American diplomat says that "Kosovo must provide the conditions," while also indicating what can be expected from the Trump Administration.
INTERVIEW:
Gazeta Express: Kosovo is going through an unusual situation. It has been more than 170 days since the February 9 elections and we still do not have a constituted assembly or a government. You have observed this situation, you have met with political parties. What is the conclusion you have drawn? This situation is not enough to be qualified as irresponsibility, is it?
Anu Prattipati: Forming a government after elections is a basic democratic function, and this ongoing political deadlock is resulting in missed opportunities for Kosovo. The Trump administration seeks strong allies with whom we can advance our priorities; a country without basic institutions and with an uncertain path to creating them is a partner we cannot always fully rely on. American companies seek stable governments and reliable partners when considering where to invest, and Kosovo’s inability to form institutions could lead companies to do business elsewhere. Opportunities to strengthen our economic relationship could be missed if this impasse continues. This is ultimately a decision for Kosovo’s elected representatives, but we encourage them to work together to fulfill the mandate that the people of Kosovo have given them.
Gazeta Express: Why was there no intervention or mediation efforts by the international community to convince the parties to create institutions? There has been such assistance in the past.
Anu Prattipati: We are not in a state-building phase. As Deputy Secretary of State Landau said on the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Accords: “The United States can be a willing partner with considerable political capital. We can work hard; but we will work only with those who are committed to a ‘practical realism’ for their countries.” Kosovo’s leaders were elected to solve the challenges facing their country. That means they must work together to find a compromise. It is the responsibility of these political leaders to resolve this impasse. The United States can offer support, but it cannot make the choices for Kosovo’s leaders or people.
Gazeta Express: The Constitutional Court gave a 30-day deadline recommending to the parties to find a way to form institutions – a deadline that was not respected. Now the Court has decided that the deputies must stop their actions and decisions. Do you think that these judges can offer a correct solution that for many they failed to do in the first case?
Anu Prattipati: It is not the role of the United States to interpret the decisions of the Constitutional Court or how they should be implemented. The political leadership must work together to form institutions in accordance with the Constitution and the decisions of the Constitutional Court. The people of Kosovo expect their leaders to fulfill their commitment to work for the good of the country.
Gazeta Express: Kosovo will hold local elections soon. The four Serb-majority municipalities in the north are led by Albanian mayors after those Serbs left the institutions in 2023. Do you expect Serb participation in these elections, namely the Srpska List?
Anu Prattipati: I want to refer you to what Vice President JD Vance said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February. He said, “You cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents.” Later in the same speech he said, “I believe that excluding people, excluding their concerns, or, even worse, shutting down the media, shutting down elections, or excluding people from the political process protects nothing. In fact, it is the surest way to destroy democracy.” Kosovo Serb political parties represent citizens of this country. They are part of the political landscape of Kosovo and should not be blocked from political participation. All parties should support the right of the people to elect their representatives. This means preventing any attempt to block Kosovo Serb political parties from participating in elections. The use of any administrative or procedural trick to prevent parties or individuals who are otherwise qualified to compete would taint the result.
Gazeta Express: As an embassy, you have often reacted to the actions of the Kosovo government, describing them as uncoordinated actions. We have had attempts by this government to open the main bridge over the Ibar. When this plan was unsuccessful, the decision was made to build two new bridges. There have also been other reactions from diplomats accredited in Kosovo. What is your position?
Anu Prattipati: Let me say this: The United States wants to strengthen ties, especially economically, with countries in the region. To do so and to increase our shared prosperity, we and the people of Kosovo need peace and stability. Actions that increase tensions in the region prevent the United States from working productively with Kosovo. Prime Minister Kurti’s incumbent government is responsible for the security and prosperity of all citizens of Kosovo. We are particularly concerned about the closure of parallel Serbian institutions without coordination with affected communities and statements about unilateral actions to move education and health care into the Kosovo system. We do not question that these institutions must ultimately be integrated into the Kosovo system. However, the manner in which this is done is of paramount importance. Any plan to change the status of parallel institutions must be fully coordinated and discussed in advance with elected leaders and members of the Kosovo Serb community, and coordinated through established channels such as the EU-facilitated Dialogue, with a clear timeline and plan in place. There is no other way to do this responsibly.
Gazeta Express: What are Kosovo-US relations currently like? Mr. Kurti has not been the most cooperative leader of Kosovo with America, which for generations of politicians has been considered the main ally.
Anu Prattipati: The United States is committed to a strong and productive relationship with Kosovo and seeks to cooperate on issues that advance regional stability, security, and prosperity. Kosovo must ensure the conditions in place for this partnership to flourish. Actions that negatively impact the citizens of Kosovo not only jeopardize Kosovo’s bilateral relationship, but also run directly counter to key United States priorities in the region, particularly strengthening economic cooperation. Regional stability and security are key to economic prosperity. During a July 12-14 visit to Kosovo, Senior Bureau Officer Brendan Hanrahan reinforced this message and encouraged the government to create an environment conducive to further U.S. investment.
Gazeta Express: There is a lot of uncertainty in Kosovo about the approach that the Trump Administration will take in Kosovo in the coming months. What can you tell us?
Anu Prattipati: The Trump administration has been clear: The U.S. government prioritizes security, stability, and fair economic relations. If the government of Kosovo shares these priorities and is committed to promoting stability and peace, the opportunities for cooperation are almost limitless. There is great potential in the U.S.-Kosovo relationship, especially for increased economic cooperation. This is good for the United States as well as for Kosovo. We see opportunities in a wide range of sectors, including energy, defense, infrastructure, information and communications technology, and cybersecurity. On the other hand, if the United States sees the government of Kosovo taking actions that undermine these priorities, there will be limitations on our ability to pursue such cooperation.
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