“A perversity that is intrinsically antinationalist” Lulzim Basha, Head of Democratic Party, calls out the decision of Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama for filing a defamation lawsuit against Kosovo’s outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. Opposition leaders like Monika Kryemadhi criticized Mr. Rama for this “shameful act” and “vassal move”. In public appearances Haradinaj has said that Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci, his Serbian counterpart Aleksander Vucic and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama have been promoting the idea of land swapping between Belgrade and Prishtina. A spokesperson for Prishtina’s Central Court has confirmed the filing of the lawsuit on Wednesday. A think tank Institute Betimi per Drejtesi (Oath for Justice) that monitors the courts said Rama claims in his suit that he has been portrayed by Haradinaj as “a traitor.” In 2018, presidents Thaci and Vucic appeared to suggest in separate comments that they might be amenable to a land swap to resolve their territorial claims while they claim the issue was never discussed directly. Each faced strong opposition at home and internationally. Haradinaj said any such deal would not be acceptable to Kosovo. “The lawsuit of Prime Minister Rama is completely unfounded and a political diversion made by him to hide after media dramas and to avoid responsibility,” Haradinaj said on Facebook. Haradinaj offered his resignation after being interviewed as a suspect by War Crimes Prosecutors located in the Netherlands. He said he was ready to face Rama’s accusations in court. Once referring to one other as brothers, Rama and Haradinaj, have cut all communications and swapped various accusations in public in the last year.

Serbia lost control of Kosovo after NATO bombing of Serb forces in 1999 to stop them the killing and expelling of Kosovo’s majority ethnic Albanians during a counter-insurgency. In 2008 Kosovo declared its independence. Kosovo has been recognized by more than 110 countries including the United States, but not by Serbia, Russia and China.

The United States and the EU have encouraged Serbia and Kosovo to normalize relations. It would allow Kosovo to be able to apply for membership of the United Nations, a move that Serbia’s oldest ally Russia is blocking.