Kosovo's foreign policy is reflecting some differences in attitudes about various issues, which, according to political analysts, can bring great consequences for the country.
Analyst Imer Mushkolaj says that state issues should be unifying, institutionally and not personally.
"The country's foreign policy and institutions in general have unfortunately suffered from a lack of coordination in certain cases, either when it comes to the number of recognitions or the institutional approach that the country should have. Many of the issues have been addressed more at the personal level than at the institutional level. Of course, this is harmful for the country and it should not happen like this", said Mushkolaj.
An example of the lack of unique positions and harmonization in foreign policy has been observed these days, when the head of diplomacy of Kosovo, Behgjet Pacolli participated in a ministerial conference of the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in Bangladesh.
One of the three objectives of participating in this conference, according to Pacolli, was "Kosovo's application for the status of an observer country in this organization".
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On the other hand, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gjergj Dedaj, has warned of irrevocable resignation, if Kosovo joins this organization, as he said, without a debate in the Assembly of Kosovo and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a conversation for Radio Free Europe, Dedaj said that this has nothing to do with the opposition to Minister Pacolli's policy, or any other inter-religious controversy in Kosovo, but that according to him, the main agenda in Kosovo is friendship and partnership with the US- in, membership in NATO and integration as soon as possible in the European Union.
"As the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Kosovo, I remain a supporter of respecting the agendas and priorities of Kosovo. And for us, the agenda, the priority is Kosovo's membership in the European Union, NATO, INTERPOL, UNESCO and in all other institutions that do not have prefixes or fixed premises, be they Islamic or Christian. Because, Kosovo does not have that luxury due to the confessional composition and structure in Kosovo, to put the agendas before the membership in NATO and the European Union", said Dedaj.
On the other hand, Emrush Ujkani, professor of European Law, told Radio Free Europe that such contradictory statements do not bring positive effects in the progress of Kosovo's statehood and its recognition in the international arena.
"This best shows how much coordination there is in the relevant institutions. At the conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation there are guests from other countries of the world and it should not be looked at with a critical eye".
"There are countries that have recognized Kosovo and Kosovo needs cooperation with this organization as well. This does not mean integration into it, but to seek the support of this organization", emphasized Ujkani.
Meanwhile, Imer Mushkolaj says that the statements, such as those of Deputy Minister Dedaj, can have harmful effects for Kosovo in the external plan. According to him, Kosovo as a state should clearly define in its foreign policy which organizations it should join and which it should not.
"On the other hand, the interest should be seen if membership in any organization that may not be oriented towards Euro-Atlantic values can benefit the country, in the sense of recognition and in the sense of cooperation. In the end, Kosovo cannot function in isolation. Cooperation with any organization that can benefit the country should be welcome", said Mushkolaj.
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Even in the past, some ambiguities have been observed in Kosovo's foreign policy and the number of international recognitions. Until recently, different institutions presented different figures about the number of recognitions. But, for now, this issue has been overcome.
On the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, it is stated that "the Republic of Kosovo has secured 116 recognitions" and that "the international recognition of the independence and sovereignty of Kosovo will remain a priority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs".
