Osmani responds to VLEN: Diplomacy is not the same as political choices

Bujar Osmani, former foreign minister, has responded to claims by the VLEN coalition regarding his official meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, held while he was leading North Macedonia’s diplomacy.

His response follows VLEN’s publication earlier in the day of a statement from the Serbian Presidency. The coalition accused the former minister of addressing issues during his term that, according to VLEN, were not in the interests of Albanians.

Osmani believes that the statement in question is a declaration by the Serbian Presidency and expresses Belgrade’s positions, not the stances of North Macedonia’s institutions.

According to him, VLEN is attempting to interpret official diplomatic contacts as political alignments, while, as Osmani says, overlooking the fact that it is part of a government with partners who, he claims, deny Kosovo’s independence, relativise the Srebrenica genocide and the Ohrid Agreement.

“VLEN must truly be desperate today if it presents a foreign minister’s official meetings as political choices, while considering its own participation in government as normal,” Osmani writes.

He stresses that communication with leaders of countries with which there are disagreements is common practice in international diplomacy. As an illustration, Osmani cites the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and meetings between international leaders and counterparts from states that hold opposing positions.

For Osmani, the foreign minister has a duty to protect the state interest through dialogue, while forming coalitions in government represents a political decision.

“Diplomatic meetings are a constitutional obligation. Participation in government is a political choice. These are two completely different things,” he stresses.

In conclusion, Osmani states that, in his capacity as foreign minister, he would continue to meet with every counterpart as part of his responsibility. However, according to him, he would not accept participation in government with political entities that deny Kosovo’s independence, relativise the Srebrenica genocide or undermine the rights of Albanians.