"Appreciation for the Trump administration is a good tactic"

Former US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried says that, even if the administration of US President Donald Trump is not fully focused on Kosovo right now, it is important to continue the dialogue and seek allies within it.

"It's useful to start creating contacts and communication habits for when the time comes," he says in an interview with Radio Free Europe.

Fried accompanied the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in several meetings she held last week in the US, reports A2.

Asked to comment on her statements that Trump has recently prevented an escalation of the situation from Serbia to Kosovo, Fried says she does not know the details.

"...but it's always good as a tactic to attribute credit to the Trump administration," he says.

In the interview given to REL, Fried also talks about the impasse in the Kosovo Assembly, the development of economic relations between Kosovo and the US, and more.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Fried, I would like to begin this interview by asking you about the ongoing political crisis in Kosovo. For three months now, the country has been without a functioning Parliament. The winning party in the elections, the Vetevendosje Movement, insists on its candidate for speaker and on a secret ballot. The parties that were in the opposition are objecting.

How do you see this political impasse in terms of democratic functioning and institutional accountability?

Daniel Fried: As an American, I am not in a position to start criticizing Kosovars for their difficulties and political dysfunction. Just look at Washington these days...

I think Kosovo needs a functional government, but it also needs the ability to face its challenges in a sustainable and energetic manner.

The prolonged political stalemate is not a problem in itself, as long as it is resolved by forming a government that can do its job.

So, I am not alarmed by the current problems, but the next Government of Kosovo must be able to cooperate with the US, the European Union, and face internal challenges - beyond the problems it has with Serbia.

Political deadlock is not a problem if a functional government is formed

Radio Free Europe: In such a prolonged institutional stalemate, what would a responsible compromise look like?

Daniel Fried: I'm an American, I'm a foreigner. I've never believed that foreigners should dictate to political actors in Kosovo what they should do.

I hold this position not only for Kosovo, but more generally for the countries of the region.

As Americans, we should only demand that the rules be respected and that democracy be respected. The government that will be formed from this process must be functional and capable of making decisions.

I will not tell Kosovo politicians what to do. What matters is that at the end of this process a government emerges that can function - that is essential for me.

Radio Free Europe: Now that US President Donald Trump is in his second term, how would you assess the level of interest and engagement of his administration in the Western Balkans, and especially towards Kosovo?

Daniel Fried: The Trump administration has limited attention to foreign affairs in general because many important positions in the State Department and the National Security Council are simply not filled.

It is active in Ukraine, for example. Therefore, it is impossible for it - due to the lack of sufficient resources and personnel - to deal with issues like Kosovo, or the deterioration of democracy in Georgia.

The Trump administration is also dealing with the issue of tariffs and potential trade wars, while issues in the Western Balkans, unfortunately, receive occasional attention.

And, remember, there were people in Trump's circle who seemed interested in relations and business with Serbia, in ways that were troubling to me.

The idea of building hotels or something like that worried me, because it indicated a short-term commercial interest, instead of a long-term strategic interest.

In this regard, it is probably better for the Trump administration not to be too involved in the Western Balkans, because we would not want this effort to go in the wrong direction. I think you understand exactly what I am talking about.

Strategic interests in the Balkans should not be replaced by personal gains

Radio Free Europe: Can you explain more to our readers?

Daniel Fried: There have been reports that some people associated with Trump and his family were interested in a hotel project in Belgrade.

There is nothing wrong with hotel projects in Belgrade, but it is very problematic if interest in these projects causes the United States to forget about its strategic interests in the Western Balkans and make some dubious deal with Serbia.

This would hinder our strategic goal: that all Western Balkan countries move towards Europe and membership in the European and transatlantic community, and not remain stuck in a nostalgia for lost empires, which will never return - just as their late grandparents will not return either.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: So you think it's better not to engage than to engage in the wrong direction - as you said...

Daniel Fried: Yes, but it's best to engage in the right direction. That was also the message of [Kosovo's] President Vjosa Osmani - at least the message that I got from some of her meetings in Washington.

I think she made a powerful call for the United States to get on the right track. She is a strong personality and a very influential and persuasive speaker.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Do you believe that [this greater US commitment] is possible or necessary at this stage?

Daniel Fried: I think it's always a good idea for the United States to know what it wants, and I was impressed to hear a message of strategic clarity from President Osmani.

I don't want to go into detail, but she presents the issue very well. I don't know how her meetings with the administration went, but she is a strong person, a persuasive leader, and she certainly knows how to talk to Americans.

Dialogue with the US is key for Kosovo

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: During her visit to Washington, President Osmani said that President Trump has recently prevented an escalation of the situation from Serbia to Kosovo. Trump's special envoy for missions, Richard Grenell, publicly disputed this claim. How do you interpret this exchange of statements?

Daniel Fried: I don't want to go into detail, but I think it's always a good idea to engage with the Trump administration. To continue to talk to them, to look for allies and friends, even if the Trump administration - as I said earlier - is not yet ready to devote a lot of energy to Kosovo at this point.

It's helpful to start establishing contacts and communication habits for when the time comes.

Radio Free Europe: So, you won't share details about the statements about preventing an escalation between Serbia and Kosovo...

Daniel Fried: I don't know the details, but it's always a good tactic to attribute credit to the Trump administration.

The “moment of truth” for Serbia

Radio Free Europe: Moving on to another issue. Kosovo's acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti recently said that normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is possible, but only if the US and other actors put more pressure on Serbia to implement the 2023 agreements on normalization of relations. Do you think Washington should change its approach and put more direct pressure on Belgrade?

Daniel Fried: I don't want to give too much direct advice, because I haven't followed it in much detail. But, as a general rule, the US and Europe are going to have to have what we call a "moment of truth" with the Serbian leadership. In other words, a serious conversation, to tell them that they can't do two things at the same time: pretend that they are on the path to European integration and, in the meantime, try to take back Kosovo.

The idea that it will act to advance Russia's interests is dangerous and destructive.

Now, I'm not sure if this is the right time for this conversation, but, overall, I think so.

[Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic is facing pressure from protests and a widespread perception of corruption and failure in his leadership in Serbia.

Although Serbian domestic politics are none of our business, we have endured Vučić's double-dealing approach for many years, and this must end.

Economic cooperation with the US should not wait for the resolution of political issues

Radio Free Europe: I want to come back to Osmani's visit to the US. Given her statements about strengthening economic ties with the United States, do you think Kosovo is trying to build a new kind of relationship with the US, one that is based more on economic interests?

Daniel Fried: It's always good to strengthen economic relations. For that, you need a government that makes decisions, is open to business and easy for investors to cooperate with. That's a good thing.

The more development Kosovo has, the better; the more economic cooperation with the US, the better.

And of course, Kosovo will join Europe, not the United States, but a government that can work with American businesses and foreign investors can also work with Europeans.

Economic cooperation with the United States should not wait until all issues with Serbia are resolved. It should begin as soon as possible.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo is showing willingness for American investment, but does it really have something that the US wants or needs?

Daniel Fried: I don't know the business, I don't know about mineral resources or investment opportunities, but I do know that, as a general rule, investors who have a vision and enter a market early can benefit greatly.

Radio Free Europe: But why this desire for economic cooperation now? Is it an attempt to adapt to Trump's policies?

Daniel Fried: Maybe, and I don't think that's a bad thing. Trump wants to know what the interests of American business are, so it's good to focus the conversation in those terms.

Secondly, even if the Government and the President of Kosovo are striving for more progress in relations with Serbia, it is best not to block everything while waiting for that progress, but to act in as many areas as possible simultaneously and achieve as much progress as possible. In other words, not to wait for the resolution of political issues.

Radio Free Europe: What would have to happen for Washington to take Kosovo seriously as an economic partner, in this new era of transactional diplomacy?

Daniel Fried: I don't know what business deals there might be, but I think an aggressive approach on the part of Kosovo to develop business opportunities could work. And then, when you have some results, you promote them and show that Kosovo is a good place to do business./ REL (A2 Televizion)