SPD MP, Adis Ahmetovic, in an interview with DW he talks about Srebrenica, Kosovo and the rights of Albanians in Southern Serbia. He also spoke about the political silence on the situation of Albanians in Southern Serbia, Srebrenica and the attention to Kosovo. He said that Kosovo should become a member of the Council of Europe.
Mr. Ahmetović, on Friday you gave a speech in the Bundestag on the occasion of the Srebrenica Memorial Day. You are personally affected by the Bosnian War, the remains of your grandfather were found in a mass grave and were only identified in 2016. How did you experience this debate?
Ahmetovic: I am very grateful that a deliberate debate on this event took place in the German Bundestag. We not only commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, but also for the first time the International Day of Remembrance for this crime. Last year, the German government, in cooperation with Rwanda, managed to win a majority in the UN General Assembly to declare this day an international day of remembrance. This debate was necessary. Even after 30 years, there are still political actors in the Western Balkans – in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in Belgrade – who deny the genocide, try to distort history and glorify war criminals such as Ratko Mladić or Radovan Karadžić. This is unacceptable. We have a responsibility – to the victims, their families and the entire region.
Srebrenica was a genocide on European soil. What lessons can be drawn from this for the current situation in the Western Balkans – especially in Kosovo?
Ahmetovic: We must closely and continuously monitor the situation in the Western Balkans. Balkan policy cannot be a matter of conjuncture – it must be a permanent part of our foreign policy agenda. That is why I regularly follow developments in the region, in Albania, Serbia and Kosovo. Our goal is stability in the region. For Kosovo, this means concretely: we want this country to become a member of the Council of Europe as soon as possible – if it were up to the SPD, better yesterday than tomorrow. Srebrenica reminds us every day that the Western Balkans are not a periphery, but a central part of Europe. Many people from the Balkans live in Germany today, are very well integrated and are German citizens. This also obliges us. The region must be an integral part of our foreign and security policies – and this is a reality under this government, especially when it comes to Kosovo.
According to our information, there was an attempt in the Bundestag to adopt a resolution on Srebrenica. Why did this initiative fail?
Ahmetovic: I can say with certainty that today we have managed to commemorate the International Day of the Srebrenica Genocide in a worthy manner – on a scale and in a framework that corresponds to the seriousness of this issue. I gave a speech personally and placed the Srebrenica memorial flower on my lapel – as a clear sign of solidarity. Another strong sign was the presence of two survivors of the genocide. Alongside the Bosnian ambassador, the ambassador of Kosovo, my political partner Faruk Ajeti – a diplomat who does an excellent job here in Germany – was also present. I would also like to emphasize: the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag has adopted its own position on the 30th anniversary and the First International Day of Remembrance for Srebrenica – and it did so unanimously. This was just the starting point. Next year comes the second International Day of Remembrance – then the third, the fourth, and we will increase and improve our commitment.
You mentioned the Council of Europe. Is there any concrete plan to put Kosovo’s membership on the agenda of the Council of Ministers?
Ahmetovic: I cannot mention a specific date, because that would be irresponsible. But as the SPD parliamentary group’s foreign policy spokesperson – together with my colleague Frank Schwabe – we will do everything to stay the course. We want Kosovo to become a member of the Council of Europe. We were disappointed that this was not achieved in the last legislature, although there was strategic momentum. If more pressure had been exerted, it would probably have happened. However, we must not give up. At the anniversary of the Council of Europe in the Bundestag, I said clearly: My wish is that Kosovo, this young democracy, becomes a full member as soon as possible – if it were up to us in the SPD, yesterday and not tomorrow.
Who should have been put under more pressure last year?
Ahmetovic: The German government should have put more pressure on the member states of the Council of Europe. Some countries were against it. But Germany now has more weight in Europe – and we must act with confidence, but also with humility. As the SPD, we will ensure that the government is more active in this direction. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Wadephul, has himself stated that Kosovo should become a permanent member of the Council of Europe. We will remind him of this promise – and judge him on the basis of it.
Another guarantee of peace is EU membership. Albania and Montenegro hope to become members by 2030. Is this realistic? And we hear talk of associated membership. What do we mean by this term?
Ahmetovic: One of the biggest lessons from the Srebrenica genocide is: the integration process of the six Western Balkan countries that are not yet EU members must gain serious momentum. If we want lasting stability and security in the region, these countries – including Kosovo – must have a real, transparent and sincere perspective for membership. And something else: NATO membership is just as important as EU membership. The two levels – political integration and collective security – are closely linked. Without security, there is nothing. People did not flee the Balkans in the 90s to look for better jobs. They fled because of war, persecution, expulsion and crime. To ensure that this never happens again, sustainable integration into the EU and NATO is needed. I cannot say when this will happen. But I can promise you: as SPD foreign policy representative, I will do everything to make this perspective a reality. The truth is also that the states themselves – Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia – must do their homework. The responsibility is two-fold.
The Kosovo Parliament is currently blocked and unable to begin work. How damaging is this to Kosovo’s path towards European integration?
Ahmetovic: As a Social Democrat, I am in close contact with the Kosovo government. Albin Kurti and his party are sister parties to the SPD – both belong to the progressive left. We have a great interest in a stable government in Kosovo, a functional parliament and regular parliamentary work. For this reason, it is urgently necessary for political stability to be restored in Kosovo as soon as possible. If this is achieved and in the coming years we have a stable government – with a very conscious president and an excellent representative of this young democracy –, such as Ms. Vjosa Osamani, then issues such as membership in the Council of Europe, the EU integration process and a possible NATO membership should be at the top of the agenda again. These issues are closely linked. And if both sides – Kosovo and the EU – do their jobs, I am convinced that there will be a very positive perspective.
Albanians in the Presevo Valley complain of marginalization – and that they are affected by the systematic passivization of their addresses. This week you hosted a delegation from the Presevo Valley in the Bundestag. What did you take away from this meeting?
Ahmetovic: I will be very honest – and I am an outspoken politician: The situation of the Albanian minority in Serbia has not received the attention it deserves, neither in Germany nor in the European Union. We have not seen the situation enough. That is why I am very grateful that this delegation came such a long way to come to the Bundestag. When I say “long way”, I do not mean the kilometers, but the persistence. They have repeatedly requested meetings – it has not been easy to find listeners. There have been many different organizations that have advocated for this issue, among others a scientist from the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen, who contacted me and said: “Mr. Ahmetović, you should look into this issue.” And I am glad that I did. I had no idea how serious and problematic the situation on the ground is. What did I learn from this meeting? We must ensure that minority rights apply everywhere. Regarding the Albanian minority in Serbia, there are three agreements to which Serbia has committed itself. They contain clear obligations for the integration of Albanians in the administration, judiciary, police and political representation. These agreements must be implemented – because they are a prerequisite for Serbia’s EU perspective.
The Kosovo government and Albanian representatives from Southern Serbia are demanding that their issue be included in the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Do you consider this request legitimate?
Ahmetovic: The Serbian minority in Kosovo has a legitimate right to demand its rights. Why shouldn’t the standards that the Serbian government demands for Serbs in Kosovo also apply to Albanians in Serbia? I think that these standards should apply to all minorities – to minorities in Serbia, as well as to minorities in Kosovo. Therefore, I find the request of the Albanian minority in Serbia to be included in the agenda of the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which is moderated by the EU, legitimate. I took this request as a duty for my work and will address it./DW