Reader in International Relations, University of Westminster. I write about Kosovo, humanitarian intervention, transitional justice & international law.
Clip from my interview on France 24.
"Is there a long-term solution?"
"The long-term solution is very simple; it's an independent Kosovo...Serbia is a menance to its neighbours...[The Kosovo government] are the people we should be supporting, not condemning."
#StandWithKosovo
Tired of the "both sides" crap.
"Kurti has never called for anybody to be killed; Vucic has. Kurti has never been part of a state apparatus involved in genocide; Vucic has. He hasn't changed, he has become more belligerent & more aggressive in the last 5 years"
#StandWithKosovo
This morning
@aliciakearns
noted that the British Army discovered that Orthodox churches in the north of
#Kosovo
are being used to store weapons.
Kfor was alerted but did not act.
Jeta Xharra: Radoicic carried out the attack.
EU Ambassador: We see some social media but we need to see more evidence.
JXH: What do you mean social media? Even Serbia acknowledges this.
A: Let's see the concrete evidence.
JXH: He confessed!
Never met Noam Chomsky, but when I was a PhD student he was the only academic who replied to my email asking for advice.
He got many things right, but he was so blinded by anti-Americanism he was also unforgivably wrong on Bosnia & Kosovo.
Your enemy's enemy is not your friend.
The vehicle looks like an American Humvee.
Surely, the
@DeptofDefense
won’t be very happy that Serbia used US-donated Humvees to train terrorists?
Vucic has a lot of explaining to do!
#Kosovo
Pictured: The terrorists who carried out the attacks trained in Pasuljanske Livade, one of the Serbian Army's key bases, ~4 days before the attacks. Other exercises took place in the Kopaonik base. The attacks enjoyed the full support & planning of the Serbian state.
I've been to northen
#Kosovo
many times.
The Serbian community there are very resourceful, but I don't think they made these weapons from locally sourced materials.
Isn't it obvious what's happening?
These military-grade arms & equipment—seized in
@Kosovo_Police
's anti-terror operation after yesterday's attack—leave no room for doubt: The perpetrators acted not alone but w/ state backing. Serbia must be held fully accountable for sponsoring terrorist violence on 🇽🇰 territory.
Fixed it.
The recent violent attacks by Serbian militia on the Kosovo Police - and the murder of Afrim Bunjaku - near Banjska Monastery are unacceptable. We call on the government of Serbia to immediately stop supporting violence in Kosovo & are imposing sanctions until it does.
The recent violent attacks on the Kosovo Police near the Banjska Monastery are unacceptable. We call on the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to avoid actions which could further inflame tensions and to immediately return to the EU-facilitated Dialogue.
Not admitting
#Kosovo
to the Council of Europe is further proof that the foolhardy appeasement of Serbia continues.
The ASM fixation is a red herring; Kosovo is being abandoned to satisfy Serbia.
This will only embolden the authoritarian forces that are growing across Europe.
Another RTK team is attacked in Leposaviq
RTK cameraman, Bardh Bekteshi, was physically attacked, and his camera was broken.
In the images sent to us by our journalist Venera Xhoxhaj, we can see the attack of the media teams and the cameraman Bekteshi falling.
#RTK
#attacked
When you have run out of ideas, been exposed as a charlatan, and watched your public relations exercise implode, describe your critics as anti-American.
Very strong statement in support of the government of
#Kosovo
this morning from
@aliciakearns
. Makes it very clear who is really to blame and that the criticism of Kosovo is dangerous and unfair.
Sanctions against
#Kosovo
!
This is utterly unfair and shameful.
The hypocrisy is glaring.
Spineless men.
This does huge damage to the EU's (already negligible) credibility and imperils regional stability.
🔴VIDEO:
EU Commission to launch sanctions against Kosovo as of this week blaming its government over tensions in northern municipalities with Serbia -backed Serbs.
EC's Director-General of DG NEAR Gert Jan Koopman tells MEPs of "temporary and reversible ... measures" ...
When this was revealed, there was outraged indignation.
"Lies! Propaganda!" many cried.
Today, armed men who allegedly murdered a police officer hide inside Banjska Monastery.
This morning
@aliciakearns
noted that the British Army discovered that Orthodox churches in the north of
#Kosovo
are being used to store weapons.
Kfor was alerted but did not act.
"Kurti's being condemned by various different actors in the West who would like Kosovo to go back to being a compliant nonentity that doesn't cause any trouble & simply does what Washington & Brussels order it to do".
#StandWithKosovo
I strongly condemn the horrific attack against Kosovo police last night. Violence of any form is absolutely unacceptable. My heart goes out to the victims, their families and colleagues. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. Everyone needs to return to dialogue immediately
Armed gangs linked to Serbia have been known to operate in northern
#Kosovo
for years.
The US/EU policy of appeasement has encouraged them.
Remember their response to...
the attacks on Kfor?
the kidnapping of Kosovo police?
the discovery of arms caches?
Appeasement is failing.
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR JEFFREY M. HOVENIER
The United States strongly condemns the orchestrated, violent attacks on the Kosovo Police this morning, September 24. The Kosovo Police has full and legitimate responsibility for enforcing the rule of law according to the constitution
The US Ambassador is "puzzled" that the gov. of
#Kosovo
is not obeying orders like past gov.s did ("fairly" is an understatement).
"I'm puzzled…it's fairly unique for a government of Kosovo not be responsive to this constellation of actors".
Kosovo needs allies, not masters.
Ambassador Hovenier: "We have shown over more than a decade or two our commitment to seeing Kosovo take its place within Europe and within European and Euro-Atlantic structures." Watch the full interview:
Until 2019, successive gov.s in
#Kosovo
slavishly agreed to Western demands.
The results?
The ASM, the special court, the border deal with Montenegro, failed attempts to join UNESCO & Interpol, no visa liberalisation, mass unemployment, crippling migration & rampant corruption.
🇺🇸 DAS Escobar,
@USAmbKosovo
and I also explained to Kosovo Albanian opposition parties the consequences of the current crisis and the damage to Kosovo’s international reputation. We asked them to support a political solution to defuse the tensions.
The current situation in the north of
#Kosovo
has been predicted by many people for years.
These are excerpts from the evidence I submitted to the UK Foreign Affairs Committee in January 2022.
Full transcript:
If you want further evidence that what Germany, France & Italy did to
#Kosovo
was unjustified & self-defeating then just look at who supports it; the most incompetent diplomat to ever set foot in the Balkans...
Richard - the deluded, steaming heap of self-love & lies - Grenell.
Potential explanations;
Alicia Kearns made it up
The British Army made it up
(As was claimed) Kfor were too slow to respond to the army's tip off; when they arrived, the evidence had been removed
The first two are utterly implausible; the third isn't.
At
@PrespaForum
, we discussed the ingredients for reconciliation in the Western Balkans. I stressed that we need to overcome the legacy of the past, seek dialogue, focus on the common 🇪🇺 future, be courageous and have a vision for the entire region.
If there was any justice, we wouldn't be asking why
#Kosovo
wasn't admitted to the Council of Europe, we'd be reflecting on Serbia having been kicked out.
Peaceful election in
#Kosovo
. Losing parties accept the results. Surely it is now time experts from Kosovo go to the US to give them advice on making democracy work?
"Even if Pristina fulfills all its obligations...Kosovo has no guarantee on its core strategic requirements. Kosovo Serbs can retain their allegiance to Belgrade and defy Pristina. Serbia can still reject de jure recognition of Kosovo".
This guy is just a minion; he has been sent out to perform by others.
That his EU bosses are still calling on
#Kosovo
to de-escalate is absurd.
It's now two and a half weeks since what the EU itself described as a "terrorist attack" happened; still no sanctions on Serbia!
EU's spokesperson says the measures against Kosovo are still in place because members "still have not seen enough satisfactory steps towards meaningful de-escalation," even following the deadly terrorist attacks on the Kosovo Police.
Shameful that the new government in
#Kosovo
has agreed to stop seeking membership in international organisations. In return for what? This is not the behaviour of a sovereign state.
My analysis of the Serbian Gov.'s "brutal ethnic cleansing" claims re.
#Kosovo
Serbs
"...there is no evidence to support the claim that ethnic cleansing is occurring. The living conditions of the Kosovo Serbs will not be improved by Serbian officials making inflammatory claims".
OPINION | Belgrade’s claim that Serbs are being purposefully driven out of Kosovo is not supported by a single relevant international organisation – but that doesn’t mean its inflammatory rhetoric isn’t dangerous.
Read more 👉
According to
@Kosovo_Police
, Serbian paramilitary forces illegally entered the territory of Kosovo & abducted 3 Kosovo policemen who were patrolling a smuggling route.
Clearly emboldened by the accomodating posture of US & EU, Serbia's authoritarian regime continues to escalate.
"the event"...
"both sides"...
"it remains unclear where the Kosovo police officers were".
Hard not to conclude that this is an inherently political statement.
Some may even call it bullshit.
Following the detention of 3 KP officers, KFOR has reviewed the location of the event and spoken with representatives of the Institutions in Kosovo and of the Serbian authorities. Based on available input, it remains unclear where the KP officers were at the time of the arrest.
Really sorry to hear that Ismail Kadare has died.
A genuine genius.
Wrote many of the greatest books I've ever read.
Incredible breadth.
An active supporter of
#Kosovo
too.
Incredible that the Prime Minister of
#Kosovo
would agree to a demand from
#Serbia
that it stops looking for international recognition. This fundamentally undermines Kosovo’s sovereignty.
This is an absolute disgrace.
If it comes to pass it will be a terrible blow to the people of
#Kosovo
.
Totally unjust, willfully irresponsible and utterly shameful.
President of France,
@EmmanuelMacron
, in a joint conference with
#PM
@ediramaal
declared that visas for
#Kosovo
have been temporarily suspended.
Why should they be suspended? Aren't these low standards being played with the citizens of
#Kosovo
?
#Shame
I thought this was a parody at first.
"More innocent lives are at risk in ongoing hostilities in the surroundings of Banjska Monastery. These attacks must stop immediately."
Somehow,
@JosepBorrellF
manages to crisitise
#Kosovo
in the midst of the crisis!
Probably the worst explanation for the violence in
#Kosovo
I’ve heard so far.
“…the fact that the deal is so near…has also somehow frustrated both [Serbia and Kosovo] so it's a bit like a couple at the door of the church before getting married having second thoughts.”
.
@ediramaal
Albanian PM on violence in Kosovo, says a deal to normalise relations between Kosovo/Serbia needs to be struck "there is no other way on earth. The US and EU are not trying to appease Serbia but trying to get Kosovo to be a state that's recognised by everyone"
Just interviewed on Al Jazeera about events in
#Kosovo
. Warned that it is implausible that those involved are not sponsored by the government of Serbia.
Delighted to receive my latest book in the post.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible, in particular my friends in
#Kosovo
who inspired it.
Available here (or send me a DM)
My interview on
@TodaywithClaire
on RTE Radio this morning.
“It is remarkable really that the West is aligning with what is probably the worst government in Europe against a government that is a threat to nobody…the West is emboldening Vucic.”
#Kosovo
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent attack on the Kosovo Police and express my full solidarity with the people of Kosovo.
The orchestrated attack on the legitimate police force is absolutely unacceptable whose perpetrators must be brought to justice. 1/
A very hollow threat.
Kosovo's EU membership application has been (unfairly) "stuck in the inbox" for decades.
Despite the progress it has made & the huge support domestically for membership,
#Kosovo
isn't even a candidate country; officially it is only a "potential candidate".
Unilateral and uncoordinated steps not only contradict the dialogue agreements but -even worse- risk 🇽🇰's EU membership application remaining stuck in the inbox.
The 🇪🇺 thrives on taking all members and their communities along, and we need the same approach at the national level.
Really looking forward to Borrell and Lajčák declaring this to be a huge breakthrough and an affirmation of Serbia’s steadfast commitment to regional peace and European values...
Just arrived back in the UK having been in
#Kosovo
. The political chaos, tribalism & general despair here in London makes me pine for the progressive transformation & hopeful atmosphere in Pristina. Please send people from Kosovo to help the UK make democracy work...
This is allegedly the EU's proposal as presented to
#Kosovo
and Serbia yesterday.
A completely unacceptable plan for Kosovo.
Anyone who thinks that Vucic would have dutifully implemented the rest of steps once the first four were achieved is delusional.
Interested in doing a PhD?
My University is offering 10 full PhD studentships to begin in the academic year 2024–25 for a September or January start.
Details below.
PhD proposals on
#Kosovo
particularly welcome ;-)
@CSDWestminster
@UniWestminster
Books aren't real until you can hold them, so I'm delighted to have received this in the post today.
More details on the content here:
#Kosovo
#Serbia
#transitionaljustice
"The current approach is not working. We would ask that the international community learns from our past and ensure we do not adopt a Belgrade-centred policy for the Balkans."
Sensible joint call for a new approach towards
#Kosovo
and Serbia.
Had a very useful discussion with
@RCCint
SG
@MajlindaBregu
. Our activities and mandates have the same goal: promoting regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations. This is why we agreed on closer cooperation and coordination for the region and its European aspirations!
1/2 I
#Serbian
president
@avucic
informed
#Russian
ambassador Aleksandar Bocan Harchenko at today’s meeting that “brutal ethnic cleansing is being carried out in
#Kosovo
” organized by Kosovo PM
@albinkurti
with the support of “part of the international community”.
Really sorry to hear that Ismail Kadare has died.
A genuine genius.
Wrote many of the greatest books I've ever read.
Incredible breadth.
An active supporter of
#Kosovo
too.
A man with this attitude toward Spanish colonial history is clearly not suited to being the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Josep Borrell:
"La Conquista" consistió en "violencias, inevitablemente", porque "naturalmente, toda conquista derrama sangre".
"Inevitablemente"?
"Naturalmente"?
Un genocidio inevitable y natural?
¿Este es el próximo representante máximo de la diplomacia europea?
Press release from the Serbian Humanitarian Law Centre.
Saša Cvjetan - jailed for war crimes against Albanians - was recently "an honoured guest" at a public ceremony in Srebrenica with Serbia's Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin.
Will someone please tell
#Kosovo
to compromise!
Odd that the US embassy in
#Kosovo
feels compelled to warn about China's role in the Ukraine/Russia war. Stranger still is that Serbia has become China's "regional hub" in the Balkans and yet still receives fulsome US support.
The Chinese are doing their very best to portray themselves as neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The reality is that China has taken a side. China is providing very critical dual use components to the Russians.
"Interfering"?
VV is an observing member of The Party of European Socialists; Kurti is calling for people to vote for parties associated with a group his own party is affiliated with.
It's called campaigning...
Interfering in foreign elections has become a common practice for Kurti. This time, he is advising the diaspora on which party they should support
🇽🇰leaders should maintain a minimal diplomatic code of conduct that respects the sovereignty&self-determination of other countries
Article of mine on the ASM;
"Demanding that
#Kosovo
establish the ASM after the Banjska attacks would be the ultimate betrayal of the people of Kosovo and the most glaring example of the appeasement of Vucic to date. It would additionally be a monumental strategic mistake".
As the map in my office in the blurred screenshot of my interview has caused some misperceptions today, I am sharing an actual close-up photo of it. It is an official EU map of the Western Balkans. Kosovo is there and so is the line separating Kosovo from Serbia.
My eldest daughter Esme; seems like a few minutes ago she was a tiny baby blinking in Limerick hospital, now she's celebrating being accepted to Edinburgh University. Very proud parents...
@bancroftian
@NATO_KFOR
@aliciakearns
What explains this then? The Chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee is lying? The British Army is lying? Or Kfor didn't respond to the intelligence quickly enough and therefore didn't find evidence when they did finally investigate?
I'm quoted here: “The US position has shifted significantly to the naïve notion that if they are nice to Vucic he will become part of the West...The irony is that, while Vucic’s situation becomes shakier in Belgrade, the West seems to be propping him up.”
Delighted to finally get my new book in the post. Thanks to everyone who helped, and especially those whose hubris and wilful disregard for reality inspired me to write it. I hope people enjoy my UFO analogy if nothing else...
#R2P
#humanrights
#UN
#norms
@Ir2Pwg
A blatant and unconstitutional power grab by the corrupt elite in
#Kosovo
. No surprise that this is led by Thaci. The LDK once again proves itself to be utterly devoid of principles. A slap in the face for the majority who voted for change.
Just finished a mtg w/ the representatives of parliamentary political parties. All of them, except for LVV, agreed that early elections aren't necessary as we must prioritize the fight against
#COVID19
. I will respect their political will, the Constitution & laws of
#Kosovo
. 1/2
@aliciakearns
is the Chair of the UK's Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
Her criticism this morning of US policy towards
#Kosovo
is further proof that supporting the government of
#Kosovo
, and criticising the US' current appeasement of Serbia, does not make one "anti-American".
Expiring utmost gratitude to
@AliciaKearns
for her unwavering dedication & insightful contribution during today's Kosovo debate in Westminster Hall.
Thank you for your steadfast commitment! 🇬🇧 🙏 🇽🇰
Very alarmed by situation in north of Kosovo: extrajudicial arrests of K-Serbs & Kosovo Security Forces marching in South Mitrovica; followed by heavy rhetoric from Serbia.
Despite yesterday's crisis meeting, escalation continues & is becoming dangerous. We will not tolerate it.
My latest on the West's disastrous appeasement of Vucic.
"it now appears increasingly likely that large scale violence could erupt...."
"Rather than tame him, the appeasement strategy has emboldened him..."
"the West’s strategy has been a catastrophic failure..."
#Kosovo
Took a group of students to
#Kosovo
; we visited the "Once Upon a Time and Never Again" exhibition curated by
@HLCKosovo
. Dedicated to the memory of the children killed in the war and those still missing. Very powerful, terribly tragic. Most of the perpetrators still unpunished.
Joint exercises like Platinum Wolf strengthen our partnership and help our militaries ensure peace and security around the world. Great to see Serbian and American forces working side by side and learning from one another - let’s do more
@mo_i_vs
!
#StrongerTogether
Long past being shocked by foreign journalist's lazy racism when it comes to
#Kosovo
- and the "savage Balkans" generally - but was particularly struck by this. When the war was actually raging this guy laments that local journalists didn't have any "sex appeal".
Failure to decide on Kosova's membership at today’s Ministerial of the
@CoE
is a missed historic opportunity for Kosova to have a deserved seat at the table and a stronger voice in shaping a united, democratic Europe.
It is necessary that the Government of Kosova acts promptly
There is plenty of blame to go around for the new crisis in northern 🇽🇰, but the first steps that started the cycle of escalation was taken by the Pristina side. Then it’s been downhill from there. And now it’s really bad.
The PDK: the party that led
#Kosovo
to being branded an archetypal case of "state capture" by the World Bank in 2017.
But if you want to make a fool of yourself, then you might as well really go for it...
Pronto!
Opposition leader Memli Krasniqi (PDK) criticizes the Kurti govt:
"Looking back, the Kurti govt will be regarded as the most corrupt government in the history of Kosovo. No other government has been more corrupt and associated with organized crime than the Kurti government."
In January 2022 I submitted evidence to the UK government's "International Development Committee" on the situation in the Balkans.
I warned of the following in relation to
#Kosovo
...
My full submission is available here:
Just arrived back in the UK after an interesting few days in
#Kosovo
. Wanted to say a special thanks to my guide Arben - pictured below - who walked me back to civilisation before returning to his natural habitat.