On February 18, Kosovo marked 15 years since it declared independence from Serbia. But the celebrations have been marred by growing tensions between the two, with Belgrade still seeing its neighbor as part of its sovereign territory. Serbia has also been a traditional ally of Russia, and wants to join the EU but has insisted on rejecting Kosovo's statehood bid. Kosovo's foreign minister, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz's family fled Kosovo during the 1980s because of Serbian oppression. Her father was killed by the then-Yugoslav regime's agents in Germany and now she says that the current regime in Belgrade does Russia's bidding and is moving toward a military conflagration with the Kosovars.
Q: Kosovo and Israel established diplomatic relations 2 years ago. Are you content with the development of these relations?
"We are more than content. Israel and Kosova [the local term for Kosovo] are really deepening our cooperation and friendship. We are in many aspects quite similar countries. Within two years, we have had a lot of excellent exchanges, ranging from official visits to private businesses. We are surely on the right path."
Q: The annual report of the Abraham Accord, which was the framework of the establishment of relations, states that economic ties and investments between both countries remain limited. Is it so and what is the reason?
"The initial phase fell into the period of the pandemic, but our economic exchange will develop increasingly dynamic. There is more to come, not only for investment in Kosova but also for exports from Kosova to other markets.
"Kosova has had a remarkable increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that proves the excellent business opportunities in Kosova. Kosova has literally jumped up 22 ranks in Transparency International's index. Businesses find a reliable environment in Kosova, and Israeli businesses can profit from that."
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Q: Kosova was the first European country to open an embassy in Jerusalem. When will Kosova nominate an ambassador?
"That is a question that we will most probably handle in the first half of this year. The final decision does not depend that much on our bilateral relationship, but rather on an ongoing long overdue restructuring of our diplomatic service to make it significantly more effective."
Q: Serbia was also supposed to move its embassy to Jerusalem, as part of the agreement reached in Washington. Was Kosova pressured by the EU not to open its embassy in Jerusalem?
"Of course, Serbia promised to move its embassy. But people here were not surprised that Vučić once again broke a promise. When I took office in March 2021, the embassy in Jerusalem was one of the first tasks to deal with. I told everyone that the move of the embassy to Jerusalem was a done deal, based on the signature and the promise of the preceding government."
Q: When will there be direct flights between both countries?
"Our countries are in touch to figure out the economic feasibility of how to achieve that. Since we don't have a national carrier, we need to find partners for a sustainable solution. We are working to find a viable solution for this flight connection."
Q: Kosova is celebrating this weekend 15 years of indépendance. However, it witnesses renewed tensions with Serbia. Is the risk of military clashes real?
"Only in the past two years, Serbian President Vučić threatened Kosova several times with war, even deploying troops at our border, sending warplanes, hosting the Russian ambassador for visits to these troops, incorporating Russian military into the Serbian defense ministry, increasing military capabilities and exercises with Russia from about 10 to nearly 100 per year in 2021. Recently, we detected Wagner mercenaries at our border and arms smuggling into Kosova. Other covert actions by Russia and Serbia are taking place in other countries in the region.
"Contrary to many, we know Vučić and his Foreign Minister Dacic very well. Both men were the closest aides of the "Butcher of the Balkans," former Serbian president and war criminal Milosevic. Vučić was his minister of propaganda and Dacic was his right hand during war, massacre, and the worst atrocities against our country and our people. They not only never apologized, but they also still publicly honor the war criminals and deny and falsify the events.
"The very reason that this aggressive approach is not turning into open conflict is the restraint of our government and the presence of US troops in Kosova. Only recently, the United States issued a stern warning to Vučić, who wanted to deploy Serbian troops on our territory. An army that was responsible for the worst crimes and the expulsion of nearly half of our population and that will never return to Kosova on our watch.
"Kosova, like Israel, is used to constant threats. That does not define our lives. We are part of the West, while Serbia is a proxy of Putin. It's not perfect, but we continue to live our lives and develop our country."
Q: How do the war in Ukraine influence Kosova and the Balkan area?
"The Russian war against Ukraine does impact the whole world. Putin has demolished the post-Holocaust world order. This is a struggle between dictatorships and aggressive regimes and the free world.
"Serbia not only breached an important treaty with the EU by rejecting sanctions against Russia. In October 2022, Serbia signed an agreement with Russia to do just what it rejected with regard to the EU - it signed to align its foreign policy with Putin. Serbia is a proxy of Russia, not only in the region but also poses a threat. Serbia is engaged in arms deals, financing, and smuggling for the Russian war, and thus contributing to the killing of innocent children and families in Ukraine.
"We in the West have to take more decisive actions to signal to Serbia that aligning with Russia is not a future if it wants to maintain connections with the West, and not turn itself into an adversary of the West."
Q: Do you fear the risk of the war spreading to other areas, including the Balkan?
"All countries that rely on secure borders need to take the threat to the rules-based international order very seriously. If Russia and Serbia were to succeed, many countries would be up for grabs. Therefore, Kosova stands with Ukraine, supports Ukraine, and wants Ukraine to win and Russia to lose this war.
"Today, in a world of cyber, drones, terrorism, and nuclear threats, Russian aggression cannot be contained to Ukraine, just as Serbian genocide could not be confined to the Balkans. Moscow is in a global alliance with China and other actors to destroy the US-led peace order that was established in direct response to the horrors of the Holocaust and World War II.
"Israel, Kosova, and other countries, small and large, should invest heavily in defending that rules-based order. If we fail to defend our peaceful world order, we may all end up in an era of war again, but this time on a totally different, global level."
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