PRESS RELEASE/
Kosova should waste no time to say “YES” to the invite of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu/
VATRA is concerned with the pressure tactics on the Prime Minister elect of Kosova, Albin Kurti. The congratulatory message by the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and invite to meet in Israel at the inaugural opening of the Embassy in Jerusalem which prompted fierce reactions by Turkey, Palestine and the Arab League and even European Union should not deter or intimidate Kosova, the upcoming administration, its institutions and political class.
The young Kosova state has no time to experiment on withdrawing from the Washington agreement of September 4, 2020 procured under President Trump and the official signings of diplomatic relations between Kosova and Israel on February 1, 2021.
The European Union has had sufficient time to facilitate Kosova’s integration yet it has opted to isolate the new state by blocking the traveling of its citizens, a measure imposed on Kosova’s aggressor, Serbia – Brussels’ pet project.
VATRA appreciates Mr. Kurti’s non-rushed approach to encounter the pressure exerted by the EU yet the delay does not benefit him, his upcoming administration nor the citizens of Kosova. While his earlier statements that the establishing of diplomatic relations between Kosova and Israel is an important and positive step towards development were promising, his announcement that he will review the issue whether Tel Aviv or Jerusalem will be the location of Kosova’s embassy at the meeting with the Turkish Ambassador in Prishtina, Çağri Sakar on March 1, 2021 sows doubts and ambiguity. These decisions do take time yet as the expression goes: Well begun is half done! Washington was clear on the opening of the Embassy in Jerusalem, where the US offices are located. The new administration has approved the move and released the funds for the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Case closed!
In considering the dilemma of listening to the Americans to set up the embassy in Jerusalem versus the threats by Europeans to settle it in Tel Aviv, Kosova should apply a balanced practical and diplomatic sense in saying “YES” to the former and “NO” to the latter. Logic and international diplomatic relations’ practices relieve Mr. Kurti of his responsibility since the decision was made by his predecessors and secondly, the location of Kosova’s embassy is determined by the host country rather than Kosova.
Kosova should waste no time to say “YES” to the invite of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu!
Executive Board of Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra
President
Elmi Berisha