Not like Nastradin’s music! If you want peace, prepare for war! EBRD and Basso strips off our veil”!
REALPOLITIK FLASH NO. 65
19 – 29 FEBRUARY 2024
On 5 major diplomatic events briefly with only 1.000 words by
DR. JORGJI KOTE,
Grand Master
1.Not like Nastradin’s music! On 20 February, Prime Minister Rama was a guest in Ankara where he was hosted with pump and glamour by President Erdogan and signed a few agreements. An extremely important visit after a certain cool off, due to our reluctancy to hand over gylenists. Foreign Minister Fidan Hakani laid down the track with his visit in Triana few weeks ago. The message was that there is no more time to wait! It’s a very good thing to have a great ally as Turkey in such turbulant geopolitical times. But caution is needed, for it may occur as they say as in the case of Nastradin Hodja, whose “musical tune is heard better later”; particularly with the destiny of remaining gylenists and the State Committee of Moslems, where the first signs of crisis are seen. Let us hope this visit will be beneficial for both peoples.
2. If you want peace, prepare for war! On 24 February was commemorated the Second Anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. There were many analyses, comments, events and summits on this occasion, as the Summit with 20 western leaders in Paris hosted by President Macron on 26 February, G-20 and G-7 with their resolution to support Ukraine as long as necessary. In all these cases, the denominator was what the German Chancellor stated during the Munich Conference on 19 February that “ without security all is nothing!”. Therefore, “ the war diplomacy” is on the top agenda now. This was also the intention by President Macron statement that the troops intervention in Ukraine is not excluded”.
Even though it was objected instantly both by NATO and the USA, since if that occurs, it would mean an open war with Russia. When Putin is threatening with victory at all costs and total destruction of Ukraine, there is no more room for peace conferences and proposals. So, Europe and the USA have already started but they should “show their teeth an muscles” to Putin and their determination to do the utmost for their victory. Only this victory may pave the way to classic diplomacy, to make both sides sit around the table as victorious, imposing the winners’ will. As many war historians and strategists have stated during these days, if Europe and Germany wll be attacked in the coming years by Russia, there is no guarantee for victory, since they need 10 – 15 years to make things ready for an all- out war; starting with recruitment, construction of bunkers, revitalizing arms factories and so on.
3. EBRD and Mme Basso stripped off our veil in the 10th Summit of the European Bank for Reconstrucrtion and Development (EBRD) on 26 February in London with the 6 Western Balkans leaders. The EBRD role in our region with over 18 billion of Euro invesments is well-known. The annual meeting has become a routine now where the leaders make political and public marketing. The highlights of this meeting were Rama’s statement on major changes in Albania and the understatement by the Serbian PM Bernabic that Kosovo is allegedly part of Serbia, which was defied by Kosovo’s PM Kurti. However, this time, it was the EBRD President, Mrs. Basso that stamped this meeting with the bitter declaration that Albania and other WB states will need at least 7 decades or even more to fill the gap with the EU member states.
This occurred when we claim that we deserve to be EU members right now but “ Brussels is not sending the bride”. This overshadowed all other statements and achievements. In brif, Madame Basso showed that while we are very good outside, we are on a bad shape inside, i.e. geopolitics alone is not enough, it needs good governaence as well!!
4.Zelenski in Tirana in the first Summit of Southeast Europe – Ukraine held on 28 February in Tirana! Significant for the country’s image and a symbolic message that WB stands with Ukraine. The comments, guessings and projections on this event are explained with the way how diplomacy works; they are implied and left to time to judge on them; together with the joint statements they set the proper legal and diplomatic ground for each country for more concrete positions in support of Ukraine, including military aspects. Well, Albania did its job well as a NATO member.
However, one can say that if Zelenski was the high guest, the true summit winners were Rama, as the host and Vuçiç; the latter avoided with Rama’s assistance three delicate and compromising phrases for Belgrade’s role vis à vis Russia; moreover, they deleted even the term “ state”, since it could imply the recognition of Kosovo; and they tell us that Belgrade is recognizing Kosovo “ de facto” nonsense!
5.Samit for the sake of summit was the one of 29 February in Tirana. We say this because actually, the EU Economic Growth Plan for Western Balkans 2023 – 2027 was announced in Tirana Summit on 16 October 2023, then in November and December in Brussels and in Skopje on 22 January even at a higher format. This is natural given the significance and difficulties for its implementation in the “swamps” of WB corruption. The leaders of our countries are used to receive all funding ready made, without serious projects, therefore their benefits are lacking to a great extent.
Thus, although the EU collected 1,1 bilion Euro for the earthquake of 26 November 2019 very little was used, due to failure to comply with several necessary EU procedures. But the sinn is ours and not of EU, whose rules should be observed if we want to benefit from the 6 billion Euro package. They will be allocated only upon measurable progress in the implementation of reforms, the rule of law and other major aspects.
© 2024 Argumentum
