Border Deal Failure Has 'Damaged' Faith in Kosovo

Kosovo political analyst Ilir Ibrahimi told BIRN that the failure of parliament to vote on a border demarcation deal with Montenegro, which Kosovo's international partners had advocated, had set back its relationship with the international community, especially with the US.

"The political parties, with their deeds are contributing to straining that relationship; they need to be exposed and be told straight forward that they are working against the interests of the country. Enough is enough and none of them can claim that they are working for the benefit of the people," Ibrahimi said.

He added that during his recent visit to Kosovo, the US Vice-President, Joe Biden, had sent a very clear message to parties in the coalition government and those in opposition that Kosovo needs to fulfill its obligations to obtain visa liberalization with the European Union.

The former EU representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, also reminded "Jeta ne Kosove" recently that adoption of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro was one of the conditions set for Kosovo to win visa liberalization.

The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on September 5 will vote on negotiations on listing third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the EU's external borders.

According to Ibrahimi, "September 1's developments, when every one of them [the political parties] failed, has contributed further to the international community losing its confidence in the political elite [in Kosovo].

"The expected vote on demarcation ratification was expected to further strain these relations," Ibrahimi continued, referring to already tense relations between the parties in Kosovo. "In my opinion,...