Vučić 'sandcastle' with Ibri! Here's what chief negotiator Dhuka writes to her Serbian counterpart
Following the statements of Serbian President Vučić on the plans for the diversion of the Ibar River, which is vital for Kosovo, Albanian politics has also been involved in the debate. Being a debate that is taking place in the center of Europe and by countries aspiring to become part of the EU, even the leaders of this integration process are not outside the replies. Majlinda Dhuka, Minister of State and Chief Negotiator, responded to the statements of her Serbian counterpart by saying that "there is something almost comical in the fact of how far we have traveled from the point where this exchange actually began: water. Albania itself opposed the idea that water could be transformed into an instrument of political pressure. The Ibar should carry water, not geopolitical resentment. And if we really want to build our European future together, there is a foundation that is significantly stronger than sand: REALITY.
Below is Ms. Dhuka's full response:
Forgive me for the intrusion, but, being inevitably a lawyer, I cannot sit idly by as I see the clear need for a refresher, while my colleague, the Serbian Minister for European Integration, now brings the sandcastle metaphor to a discussion that began on a river.
A pleasant metaphor, with a small structural flaw: it is based on such a selective reading of Resolution 1244 that it itself becomes like a sandcastle.
So, to remember:
Resolution 1244 did not restore Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo. It established international administration, removed the Serbian Security Forces, created a separate political process for the future status of Kosovo, and, most importantly, did not predetermine the outcome of that process.
This is why, when Serbia itself asked the International Court of Justice whether Kosovo's declaration of independence violated international law, the Court replied that it did not.
Some may not like this answer. It may take another generation or two to debate it. But international law is not made more useful by being selectively quoted, and history does not turn back simply because Belgrade continues to expect it to do so.
As for territorial integrity, we can all easily and completely agree that borders should not be changed by force. For this very reason, mentioning Ukraine while discussing Kosovo is not just an inappropriate choice. It is even an argument against itself. Kosovo was not annexed. Albania has absolutely no territorial claims against Serbia, nor any agenda for anything “Greater,” other than a Greater Europe, with Albania, Kosovo, and, yes, Serbia, all within it. Let us leave the ghosts of “Greater Albania” and “Greater Serbia” behind and enjoy their well-deserved retirement.
Kosovo declared independence after war, ethnic cleansing, NATO intervention, years of UN administration, and an internationally mediated process for its status.
Since then, it has been recognized by more than a hundred UN member states, including the vast majority of EU and NATO members.
And yes, of course the Brussels Agreement matters. We do not question it. We continue to believe that the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities should be treated, just as Serbia's own obligations should be treated, within the framework of the dialogue. Working closely with the EU, both my dear Serbian colleague and I have seen in real life that agreements are more or less like good neighborliness: they work significantly better when reciprocity is not treated as an optional extra.
But, there is something almost comical about how far we have traveled from the point where this exchange actually began: water.
There was a threat regarding the flow of the Ibar. Albania itself opposed the idea that water could be turned into an instrument of political pressure. From that very basic principle, we somehow traveled through Resolution 1244, territorial integrity, Ukraine, China, Cyprus, and, finally, we arrived at sandcastles.
A long journey for a river.
So, maybe we can leave the sandcastles for the beach, and the history seminars for another day.
The Ibri should carry water, not geopolitical resentment.
And if we really want to build our European future together, there is a building foundation significantly stronger than sand: REALITY.
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