KOSOVO: EUROPE'S SIDELINED CHALLENGE

Public Seminar organised by the Embassy of U.K. in Vienna,the European Stability Initiative and the Vienna Diplomatic Academy( Vienna, March,15 2012)

Remarks by Ambassador (ad.hon.) Alexandros Mallias,Special Advisor to ELIAMEP ( Athens) 

On May 9 1950,Robert Schuman made history  by  suggesting  the visionary idea of creating a Community of  pacific interests .In doing so,he extended a hand  to yesterday's enemies .The idea was based on the concept and concrete proposals  drafted by  Jean Monnet.

The Schuman European  Declaration,  was clear;I quote: “...It is no longer a time for  vain words ,but a bold ,constructive act...For Peace to have a chance, there must first be a EUROPE...''. Robert Schuman  guided by a realistic approach underlined  that ''...Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan.It will be built through achievements  which first create  a de facto solidarity...''.

Since  Homer,the way to Ithaka has always been an individual  as well as a  collective journey.  My generation was and  still is the most pro-European generation in Greece. EUROPE  has always been my ideology, synonymoys to freedom, democracy, human rights and solidarity. This has always been my own Europe.

Today, this  Europe of empathy ,sympathy  and solidarity appears  inreasingly distant to many Greeks. Since the era of Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War , hegemonism as concept and as  practice is   omnipresent. The ''Melian  Dialogue '', between the powerful and hegemonic Athenians and the week Melians who tried through negotiation to avoid the catastrophe  of their city ,is a masterpiece of exercice of relentless superiotity  aiming at the capitulation.

Allow me to quote here two sentences from this Dialogue:

MELIANS: And how could it turn out as good  for us to serve  as for you to rule?

ATHENIANS: Because you will have the advantage of submitting before suffering the worst,and we should gain by not destroying you.                                                                                          

This is exactly the kyrion symptom  in today's Hellas.Hellenes , at least a clear   plethora  of them ,identify themselves  with  the Melians.I  humbly  invite those who  distinctly  assume  the role of hegemony  of the  European Enosis to revisite Thucydides . There are some lessons to be learnt.

Now back to our Balkan microcosmos.  I was  enthusiastic  to accept the invitation to  join a  Kosovocentric  seminar ,under the xenia  of  this august  Diplomatic Academy. The theme of the dialogue ''  testing the European Union's limits of soft-power'' is particularly attractive to me. It is always good to know that our Europe remains a ''soft power''.

Notwithstanding ,the  present icon  of ellipsis of adequate European    strategy  at a  ecumenic level , coupled by the characteristic absence of vision ,cohesion and homegeneity during  the historic episodes of the Arab Spring,my   logos  is clear:

The enlargement process open  since the Thessaloniki  2003 European Summit, to all Balkan countries,is the indispensable    smart -power mechanism,the catalyst for changing attitudes and policies. It is also the generator of dynamics , praxis and synergies  for solving problems.The European integration  Odyssey, is  the epitome of  compromise.

My syllogism  is that the  Brussels unfinished symphony of February,24 orchestrated by Serbia and Kosovo and conducted by Robert Cooper,paved the Euro-drome for Serbia's accession   to the Union.It  is  also clear that ,history  and symbolism apart,this symhony    synchronises the  Commission's anaphora  ( feasibility study) for the Republic of Kosovo. In practice, Serbia's  horizon into the European Union  will generate  the necessary  positive energy and dynamics  also for the Republic of Kosovo. 

In this context,March 27 ,will be an important day for Kosovo,for  the Balkans and for the European Union .

I seize this opportunity to praise the  leaders in Prishtina  and Belgrade for the February 24,Brussels Agreement.

President  Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci were compelled to  make compromises in order to get  to yes.The outcome is '' Win-Win'' for Kosovo and for Serbia. 

They both displayed political pragmatism and received o good  amount  of international praise.

Now , both  have to come to terms with the  so-called ''political cost''  at home.Antithesis  to the Brussels  symphony   was vocal in Belgrade and  loud and clear in Prishtina.

Notwithstanding   their differences on status related issues  both Serbia and Kosovo decided that their integration into the  European Union  mainstream  asks for compromises. For sure,this one  must and will  be  followed by others.

    

On Greece  and Kosovo.

Kosovo is our neghbour .Our youngest neighbour.

My thesis is clear  and publicly stated in Prishtina ,in Tirana  and of course in Athens.Prishtina's KOHA DITORE,Tirana's  GAZZETA SQUIPITARE  and several greek  media as well, published  my  article titled ''Greece and our Albanian neighbours”.

I advocate the need and indeed the necessity for a fresh and holistic  diplomatic entreprise for a ''new deal ''between Greece and Albania as well as  a deal  between Greece and Kosovo . 

I was told that it is very ambitious and rather complicated. Also,that is risky.I respond that  there is no leadership without ambition and without risks.At least this is a plan.If there is a better  lease  take it.

Here are the basic points :                                                                                      

-Athens and Prishtina should enter into a stuctured political dialogue with the aim to  conclude a legally binding  bilateral basic document ; a Treaty .

-       This document would and should match   Greece's interests and respond to its concerns. For the Republic of Kosovo ,the outcome will be also clear:Recognition .   Whatever is said or argued  in relation with its present   potential and capabilities ,mostly  behind closed doors,in reality  Greece matters for Prishtina.

-        In parallel,Kosovo's recognition   by Greece should  become the catalyst  in  revitalising the relations between Tirana and Athens. They  suffer for some time now from lack of political will and   mobility,innovative thinking and commitment to overcome existing put solvable issues.

-       Let me also emphasize that   Greece   has  a rather  difficult   press in Tirana.Media   commentaries , echoed  on the spot in Greece,  coupled with  anachronistic demands from some  political groups ,do not generate the necessary political backing  that  governments in Athens need in order to move  on  Kosovo .

                                                                                         

 Greece is  very  familiar with Kosovo's journey to the European Union.

It was  formally launched under the  2003 Hellenic Presidency of the European Union.Ideed,the  Presidency's Programme included the following formulation:

“ The modalities of the inclusion  of Kosovo in the Stabilisation and Association Process will have to be addressed ,with full respect of  Resolution 1244 and within the concept '' European standards before status''.

Today, this  formulation appears to be an anachronism to the Kosovars. Nine years ago , was  more than  important. For the first time Kosovo, under  specific terms,was invited to be included in the SAP .

Kosovo was indeed present in Thessaloniki.The presence of late President  Ibrahim Rugova and then Prime Minister  Bairam Rexhepi  at the European Union -Western Balkans Summit  was  history in the making.

The Thessaloniki Agenda  ,adopted by the European Council on June 20,specified  that '' The  European Union reiterates its support for the full implementation of the UNSC 1244 and of the ''Standards before status policy”.On this basis,the people of a multiethnic and a democratic Kosovo will have their place in Europe''.

 Furthermore,the operative part of the Thessaloniki Agenda  contained  more elaborated  language on Kosovo including a call ''on the importance to the dialogue  between  Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual interest''.

Greece has  declared its   intention  to organise during the 2014 EU Presidency  a kind of ''Thessaloniki 2'' Summit meeting. Athens have the ambition  to use this event  in  order to '' reset  the button'' in the EU-Western Balkans  relations. 

I cannot  think of    ''Thessaloniki 2''  with the question of recognition  of Kosovo  remaining unsettled . At least , as far as Greece  is concerned.

On the basis of a '' win-win'' structured process  involving Athens and Prishtina, as well as Greece and  our Albanian neighbours.-