Surprisingly, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Friday, has resigned. Reason: He was summoned by the war crimes Tribunal in The Hague, pre -. Now the cards will be reshuffled, says Vilma Filaj-Ballvora.
20 years after the end of the Kosovo war, many wounds are still open, most of the crimes in the conflict to go unpunished, sets out the reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo in the distance. However, an important process has begun: With the consent of the Kosovo Parliament in Pristina, a special Tribunal was established. It is intended to reappraise the war crimes of Kosovo Albanians during the Kosovo war. The special Tribunal based in The Hague has now collected evidence and the first witness interviewed.
Now the bombshell: the summons of the Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, the Tribunal directly to the first leaders of the former KLA. Haradinaj should be next week belongs to. For this reason, he has resigned.
DW editor Vilma Filaj-Ballvora
It is the second Time that Haradinaj voluntarily on the way to the Hague. In 2005 he had resigned from his office as head of government down. The former KLA-be commander of the Serbian authorities for crimes against the Serbian civilian population during the war in Kosovo are accused of. After his acquittal for lack of Evidence, the suspicion that witnesses were intimidated and even murdered remained. Nevertheless, Haradinaj was celebrated in his return from the Hague in Kosovo as a national hero.
A resignation with far-reaching consequences?
The resignation Haradinajs can have far-reaching consequences for Kosovo: the power structure in the small Balkan country moves with the disposal of this Central figure in significantly. After early parliamentary elections, Haradinaj 2017 was as Chairman of the party Alliance for the future Kosovo Prime Minister.
From the beginning, his government coalition, the so-called parties of the “war wing” was very shaky. And the challenges are enormous: the difficult relations with Serbia, the corruption and high unemployment, as well as the Damocles sword of the special Tribunal. Premature Failure was programmed.
Stalled talks
Particularly in relation to the dialogue with Serbia, a new balance of power in Pristina is a Haradinajs departure emerged: Haradinaj joined chosen for a dialogue, without preconditions, with Serbia and was strictly against any Border changes. These were pulled out of Kosovo President Hashim Thaҁi and his Serbian Counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in recital.
Haradinaj scored with this line, both in Kosovo as well as in other Western European countries. Germany in particular, but also many other countries of the EU have clearly argued against a scenario of border changes in Europe.
Nevertheless, Haradinaj was also internationally, under massive pressure, as his government imposed high customs duties on Serbian imports. Since then, the dialogue with Serbia on the ice – but also the potential land exchange is located. In spite of the intensive mediation efforts of Haradinaj did not let go.
Departure with far-reaching consequences
The stubbornness of Haradinajs he would become the Prime well-sooner or later, fatal. Now, the process in The Hague has accelerated his resignation. Haradinajs step is consistently and correctly: He faces the judiciary.
The finish Haradinajs from the political scene will also change when this should only be temporarily – the political landscape in Kosovo. Especially President Hashim Thaci and his Democratic party, the most important thing is missing now, the adversary in the dialogue with Belgrade: The for well over a year, discussed a “Deal” between Serbia and Kosovo – Land-for-recognition – could again get weight. However, an agreement in this direction without a consensus of a wide majority of the population in Kosovo would be a question not a good basis for a long-term and durable solution to the Kosovo.
The special Tribunal for the war crimes of the Albanians during the Kosovo war on Friday is a strong step in the direction of a legal dealing with the past done. An encouraging sign for Kosovo. However, the political impact of Haradinajs resignation will probably not have to wait long: Especially the dialogue with Serbia may come to this again. A bad Deal on the Basis of internal political weakness in Kosovo should, however, be prevented.