Happy birthday, Kosovo!

I did this interview on for Arben Ahmeti, editor of the new Kosovo daily Tribuna.  They are publishing it today (the day after the fifth anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence):

1.  Has Kosovo achieved statehood five years after declaration of independence?

A:  Yes, Kosovo is a state.  It has a functioning presidency, government, Constitutional Court and judicial system. It has functioning municipalities and civil society.  While there are many state institutions that are not fully formed yet, the main state institution lacking at this point is a security force capable of defending the state, its territory and its people.  That will become permissible this year and will be needed within the next five years, because I find it hard to believe KFOR will stay any longer than that.

2.   There is no international legitimacy yet, no authority over all territory; no rule of law. Do you think that these five years were more a test than actual existence as a state?

A:  No.  I don’t.  You are building a state, which takes time.  There is a good deal of international legitimacy:  more than half the members of the UN have recognized Kosovo, which is increasingly accepted in regional meetings and international organizations.  There is government authority over 89% of the territory.  The law rules more than it doesn’t.  Otherwise I don’t know why my driver on the way to the airport at 5 am keeps below the speed limit.  The Constitutional Court has intervened twice on issues concerning the presidency, successfully.  I know a lot of states in which that would not have been so readily accomplished.

There is of course room for improvement, especially concerning corruption and organized crime.  But you should not ignore the real progress that has been made.

3.  How long do you think will it take to Kosovo to become member of UN?

A:  As long as it takes to convince Serbia that it is better off with a clearly defined border and a friendly neighbor than an indefinite border and a hostile neighbor.  It is beyond me to predict when that might be, though I suspect it will be sooner rather than later.  Belgrade needs a date to begin EU accession negotiations, because with the date comes substantial financing.  No one in Belgrade is going to do Kosovo any favors, but you have some leverage in this situation.

4.  Do you think that ongoing dialogue will result in normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia this year?

A:  There has already been a good deal of normalization.  Belgrade officials are meeting often with Kosovo officials, whom the Serbs accept as the democratically validated representatives of a legitimate government.  But I won’t be satisfied until there is mutual diplomatic recognition and exchange of ambassadors.  That isn’t going to happen this year.

5.  Will north be a special territory?

A:  I don’t know what a “special territory” is.  I expect the north to have all the privileges defined in the Ahtisaari plan, which are many.  There may also be some need for particular implementation agreements, like the Integrated Border Management agreement.

6.  Do you expect the north to be integrated into Kosovo institutions?

A:  Yes, while continuing the relations with Belgrade permitted in the Ahtisaari plan.

7.  How do you see the lack of rule of law in Kosovo?

A:  I see it as a problem, one that needs to be solved.  I can remember a Kosovo that had much less rule of law than today.  And I hope to see one with more rule of law than today.

8.  How do you comment the evaluation of EU Commission for visas on Kosovo?

A:  I see it as a first step in the right direction.  The EU Commission has to be exacting and clear in what it asks of Kosovo.  Experience with other Balkans countries will make the Europeans very tough.  If you want to get into their club, you need to meet the requirements.  If I were an EU citizen, I would expect a great deal of rigor in applying the requirements.

9.  Do you think that Kosovo is losing too much lacking the economic development?

A:  Kosovo has a lot to do still to make its business environment attractive to foreign investors.  But in talking with Kosovar entrepreneurs, I’ve found a good deal of enthusiasm for the commercial possibilities.  Growth in Kosovo has been high by European standards.  Not sufficient, but still high.  One of the key questions now will be how to incorporate the gray economy into the official statistics and make it part of the official economy.

10.  Is Kosovo still a “black hole” in Balkans?

A:  No.  It is a developing country, an emerging market, that still needs to improve the business environment and rule of law.  These are much better problems than it had ten or even five years ago.

While far more advanced than an infant, a five year old still has a lot of growth and maturing to do.  Enjoy your childhood.  It will be over soon enough.  Happy birthday, Kosovo!