REALPOLITIK FLASH NO. 63
21 JANUARY – 3 FEBRUARY 2024
On 4 major diplomatic events briefly with only 1.000 words by
Dr. JORGJI KOTE, Grand Master
1.Only economic integration now! This was the main message of the EU – Western Balkans Summit on the Economic Growth Pact in Skopje on 22 January. Actually, this Pact was presented in Tirana on 16 October, in the Berlin Process Summit by the EU Commission President, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen. In Skopje it was presumed to work it out based on concrete projects by the countries of the region amounting to 6 Billion Euro. However, there were only bilateral courtesy meetings, family photos and political statements, but no project whatsoever! The introduction with the new US Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brian seemed to compensate it.
Apparently, lacking a quick prospect for EU membership, the need to resolve the growing tensions provoked by Serbia against Kosovo and the escalation of the situation in Bosnie, this Summit was much more designed to “ tighten the ranks” and as a diplomatic draw of attention that for the time being the states of the region may forget a rapid EU accession and deal with the consolidation of economic cooperation and the establishment of the long awaited Regional Common Market, the most important project of the EU and Berlin Process.
2.Too much for us, too little for them!
In the recent weeks we see the strange phenomenon in our politics when both the governing and the opposition parties are trying to appear in the international stage as “big weights”. Although they “lack the guts”, capacites and the proper reliability to treat and resolve aspects much simpler at home, they haste to offer solutions to the most serious crises and problems in the world and evenmore with “ a stroke of pen”! Thus, PM Rama after his proposals and drafts on Serbia – Kosova dialogue where much more powerful actors are not succeeding there is making demarches to resolve also the crises in the Middle East crises! This becomes ridiculous when one thinks that this complicated crises which even for other huge countries for decades is a “hard nut to be cracked” even by the USA and EU! This shows that our political leadership does not have a good picture of Realpolitik! Or they think to be factorized simply and only by launching their ideas in the geopolitical market and bazaa which become just propaganda “flashes in the pan”! However good and useful these ideas and proposals may seem in appearance, it is suffice to think that they come from a country without a genuine political role and they would be left out or would be taken simply as political jokes. Quite recently, PM Rama announced from Skopje that he will host a Summit in Tirana on Ukraine, as if there are no other states to do that that which are in a much better position than us!
Neither is the leader of the minority but “ official Democratic Party ” lagging behind. Last week it was announced the approval of the proposal by its Chairman, Lulzim Basha to confiscate Russian assets abroad amounting to 300 billion Euro! When it would have been much better to look after the fate of our Resolution of October 2022 on the charges against the former UÇK leader for trafficking of human beings. Moreover, it is known that the destiny of the Russian assets is in the US and EU hands and even for them it is not that easy!
Meanwhile, Fatmir Mediu announced that in cooperation with US senators arranged a session there on the support for Ukraine. When it is common knowledge that the hindrance comes from the Congress there, the Republicans, Mr. Mediu’s allies. He would do much better to seek the assistance and intervention of the US and European congressmen to put order in his own party house in Tirana!
Well, all these actions “are like two drops of water” with the propaganda of the time of single – party system, they are even more surpassing it. The end – product, they are too much for our capacities and too little for their beneficiaries.
True, such political games without ball maybe good public marketing for the domestic public, “a fig’s leaf” to cover up the troubles and problems at home, to divert the public attention from many affairs and scandals, to satisfy the political naiviness of the “big shots”, hoping that would “close an eye” against them, but nothing more.
As we have underlined before, it is much beter to focus on our domestic home work and then go abroad. As the emblematic British Prime Minister William E. Gladstone said the success in foreign policy starts at home” where in fact lies the worst devil for us.
- 3. Turkey ” hits” with Fidan! during his most recent visit in Tirana, Sopfia and Bucharest on 28 January. Unlike before, this time we did not have President Erdogan as we are used until late. It’s a long time that the level of relations between Trana and Ankara is reduced for well-known reasons. Besides, President Erdogan is very busy with Russia, Ukraine, Hamas and other global affairs. Therefore, apparently he sent his emissary Hakan Fidan to “touch the pulse” in Tirana and to lay the track for other moves in the near future. Also as a message that caution, Turkey is here, your guardian, it si a global force, it is in NATO, is a big miltary might! But this does also need its own reward especially with the hand over of the remaining gylenists from Tirana and the strengthening of Turkish role in the Balkans. Thus, Turkish Foreign Minister, Fidan, as we say in Albanian “ knocked on the mat to hear the door”. The story of this visit is like Nastradini’s music, you will hear it later!
4 .50 Billion Euro for Ukraine! Finally, at the Mini Summit on 1 February, the EU showed its resolution and unity although a forced one. The deal was a great relief for the Ukraine and the whole West, whose reliability after US provisional “ embargo” is put at doubt. Now Ukraine may continue the war since it has the necessary economic and financial resources to support it at least for the next 4 years. This was a great achievement and advantage for the EU, which we firmly hope to be further consolidated with the US support. The Belgian EU Presidency reaped its first success.
© 2024 Argumentum
