America in Kosovo:the Indispensable Big Brother

“It is impossible to do anything in Kosovo against the wishes of the Americans,” an international diplomat confided in me in Pristina, Kosovo. I had known that Kosavars love Americans, since the latter “freed” them from the Serbs. However, I did not know to what extent the Americans hold a majority control of the State. Another diplomat told me, “Kosovo will never be its own State. Without NATO and especially America, it cannot hold itself up. The United States will never leave here.” And frankly, I believe he is right.

For the United States, Kosovo is a strategic country. It is Muslim, but only moderately so; it is near Russia and positioned in a corridor of the world laden with energy. It is the only Muslim country to have supported the American invasion of Iraq early in 2003. The future highway “Pristina-Durrës” (on the Albanian border) signifies a potential military advantage for the Americans: the military base Bondsteel (the largest American base in Europe) will certainly benefit from a direct access point to the Adriatic Sea, where Albania has already authorized the United States free port use. “The United States have a regional vision for Kosovo; it is their strongest footing in Europe,” another tells me.

In Kosovo — and to a lesser degree, in Albania — the Anglo-Saxon influence is evident in everyday life, from the Clinton Boulevard to the American flags, or in passing by expatriate vehicles. One month ago, Tony Blair visited Pristina. Three years ago, I came across George W. Bush on a visit to Tirana. It is not uncommon to meet Albanian children named Tony or Bill.

Last February, at the inauguration of the Bill Clinton statue, ten thousand people came to the event. Two days ago, there was another ceremony to inaugurate the development of the space around the statue. Bill Clinton is now surrounded by pretty cobblestones and a large water basin. Above him, his image is enthroned, between advertisements for coffee and satellite antennas. The only catch is the inscription on the wall behind the statue. Written are the words, “No to negotiations. Self-determination,” by a political party who advocates for the exclusion of all foreigners who supervise the country and the right of Kosovo to govern itself.

It is also the assertion of the NGO “Cohu!” (which means “stand up”): “Let us fail!”, says its president, Avni Zogiani. “The American embassy puts pressure on each economic sector through strategic counselors. They are the real ministers of the economy. Even EULEX [The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo] sometimes feels limited in action due to American influence. Each week, EULEX threatens to arrest Fatmir Limaj, the secretary of transportation, yet he is still free because of pressure from the Americans.”

[Mr.] Taulant, a graduate from the Institute of Political Science in Strasbourg, has written a paper on relations between the European Union and the other foreign entities currently in Kosovo. He says American influence is relative: “Even if the United States are a major player here, not everything passes through their embassy.” On the other hand, to prove Kosovars’ affection for the Americans, Taulant cites a 2007 Gallup poll:”Kosovo is the only country in which Americans are more loved than in the United States!”