What does Kosovo’s president represent?

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga’s speech today at SAIS was what I had hoped.  She was forward-looking, even while reviewing the sad history of oppression from 1989 until the NATO intervention in 1999.  She was clear about Kosovo’s status as a sovereign and independent state, even if it has not achieved universal recognition and membership in international organizations.  She was hopeful about Kosovo’s European aspirations, while recognizing the many challenges that have to be faced, including normalization of relations with Serbia through the EU-sponsored dialogue.  She was forceful about Kosovo’s territorial integrity, while emphasizing the rights of the Serbian community under the Ahtisaari plan.   She underlined the importance of reintegration of the northern muncipalities, but called for an economic development plan encompassing south Mitrovica as well.

Plucked from a successful career in the Kosovo police, President Jahjaga is quickly establishing herself as a symbol of Kosovo’s youthful aspirations.  She is trying hard to represent all of Kosovo’s ethnic communities, not just the majority Albanians, and to stay above the political fray.  She embodies commitment to rule of law–her entire career prior to becoming president was spent in law school and the much-respected police service.  And though she did not mention it today, she symbolizes the aspirations of Kosovo’s women for a stronger role in a society in which male politicians dominate.

What more could I have asked for?  In response to my opening question about pursuing criminals responsible for crime against Serbs south of the Ibar, she emphasized mainly Pristina’s inability to get the full benefit of cooperation with international police organizations, of which Kosovo is not yet a member.  I might have liked to hear something more about encouraging all citizens to protect their neighbors and support the authorities in maintaining law and order.

She was clear about protection of minority communities, but a colleague noted that he would have liked to hear more about how all the ethnic groups of Kosovo share a common history and culture.  The beautiful Serb monasteries of Kosovo should be a source of pride to Albanians as well as to Serbs.  The maintenance of separate, and conflicting, historical narratives is a serious obstacle to reconciliation in Kosovo, as it is elsewhere in the Balkans.

Asked whether she would come to Belgrade to meet President Tadic, she responded she would go anywhere to meet anyone so long as it was clearly understood that she is the president of a sovereign and independent state.  That is not likely to happen soon, since Serbia will have elections next spring.  But the time will come.  If Jahjaga is still president when it does, Kosovo will be well represented.

A few minutes in the “green” room before the talk with President Atifete Jahjaga and Minister for European Integration Vlora Çitaku (that’s Ambassador Avni Spahiu hiding behind me):