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REAL POLITIK FLASH NO. 75
1 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2024
With “ flash” comments on the 4 major events in only 1000 words by the well-known analyst,
DR. JORGJI KOTE
Grand Master in Diplomacy
1.Dialogue is dead! We have mentioned before that the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade was “in coma” kept alive through “artificial respiration”! However, the latest events and incidents, the “show of muscles” from Belgrade, especially the latest 7 provocative points by President Vuçiç and some uneccesary acts from Pristina not coordinated with our allies show that this dialogue “is dead but not buried yet”! After 12 years of failed attempts, its high time that once the new leadership and mediators are in place in Brussels and Uashington, they should proceed with new forms and formats in the region and in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, in particular. Both the USA and the EU need to change their strategies and tactics vis à vis them. Enough is enough with the policy “ drag but not cut it” and “ carrots for Belgrade and sticks for Pristina”. Would this occur until the first quarter 2025? Let us wait and hope it’s a matter of months!
2. Not only the Greek veto! Much is spoken recently on the opening of the first cluster of negotiations with the EU. Particularly now that “Beleri” and Himara Municipalitty case are closed and when the EU should give a clear message to the region. But caution is required, so as “ not to count chickens before they are hatched” True, Greece could lift up its veto this October or December, but it has warned that the issue of assets of the Greek minority remains essential for our further progress to the EU. Implying that Athens would keep its veto as “ Damocles sword” in the future. On the other hand, its the danger that failure to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court in the case of MP Xhaçka, Brussels and any other EU capital could say “ let’s wait the answer from Venice and then we see”. So, no need for euphoria and propaganda, since especially with Greece we are as they say “ neither on the sky nor on the earth”.
3. Active, not actors! After our non-permanent membership to the UN Security Council, the OSCE Chairmanship, hosting three summits in Tirana, PM Rama has announced that we shall host the Summit of the European Political Community next year and that of NATO in 2027; in early March 2025, we shall also be host to the Berlin Tourist Fair, the largest worldwide. All these and other events produce the impression that Albania is turning into a true geopolitical actor. This is reinforced by the euphemic language and compliments that foreign top diplomats use in their commucation with our leaders.
True, during the last years, we have become much more active; but this si quite normal, after 34 years of political pluralism, 15 years as NATO members and in many other international organizations and as an aspiring country to EU membership. Yet, we are and cannot become geopolitical actors. Even larger states with a long tradition in hosting several summits and with other contributions do not claim to be as such. Then, it is suffice to refer to our major economic, financial, social and military indicators to be easily convinced that we are far from being a true geopolitical actor. Apart from the internal state with plenty of challenges and problems, the growing migration, crime and corruption and others. Hence, let us not imitate the communist propaganda that we were allegedly “ the red lantern of socialism” when we had to wake and queue up early in the morning to buy the most basic foodstuffs. It’s great that we are much more active, but actors to bring changes even in the region, no talk about it.
4. Draft-law to undo diplomacy was proposed last month. It is announced also in ARGUMENTUM, in articles and professional views by the Council of Albanian Ambassadors and other distinguished experts. Briefly, this draft idealizes the Foreign Minister’s role, while underrating that of Secretary General, the highest civil servant. Then, while this draft tightens the rules for career diplomats, it facilitates access to “outsiders”, lifting all restrictive quotas and criteria for them. Thus, it paves the way to filling our foreign service diplomats and ambassadors from politics, economy, culture, arts, international organizations and experts appointed by the Minister in embassies abroad, including the absurd duplication of existing ambassadors with ones sent again by the Minister! In concrete terms, out of 56 ambassadors, now we have 20 political ones or “ outsiders” or over 30 per cent of the total, from 20 per cent that the previous quota used to be, which was abolished under the Law 2015! Although we have a consolidated diplomatic corps, with diplomats who have devoted their life to diplomatic service, with several terms in office in Tirana and abroad! Moreover, the above-mentioned and other achievements in the recent years are attributed mainly to their performance, as diplomats and ambassadors not lagging behind their foreign counterparts! Therefore, there is no reason to increase the number of outside diplomats, on the opposite, they should be reduced to the favour of career diplomats. Moreover that apart from 4 – 5 current outer ambassadors as former MPs, all others are neither prominent personalities nor well-known public figures. Its very strange that many of these “outsiders”, who have stayed nearly 10 years in office, against any law and regulation, now the concern is to coopt them as career diplomats, something unheard elsewhere. This would be an immense social injustice and discrimination of career diplomats, who were recruited and have gone through many layers of diplomatic hierarchy! Thus, our diplomatic service could be crammed with folks who have only the name as diplomat. Apart from the bad image, this could cause the same traumas as 15 – 25 years ago in the case of political rotation; problems were solved correctly at that time but soon they would reoccur. Just to satisfy the narrow party likings and interests.
Now it remains to hope that the draft would not pass as it is, but it will take into consideration several suggestions and recommendations tabled by the Council of Albanian Ambassadors and other experts, on the basis of the most advanced legislation of Western countries. We do not need to try unchartered paths and tracks in this sensitive and vital area of our foreign policy.
© 2024 Argumentum
