Balkanalysis.com

By Anita McKinna

The election of a man as president who has spent most of his life outside Kosovo, and who is married to a Russian, has met with questionable support amongst Kosovo’s Albanian population.

Behgjet Pacolli’s New Alliance for Kosovo (AKR) party won only 8% of the vote in December’s elections, barely even clearing the 5% threshold required for gaining seats in parliament. And the voting process for the presidency itself revealed hostility to Pacolli’s election, with opposition MPs boycotting the voting session and Hashim Thaçi having to summon his MPs to a meeting after the second round of voting, when initially 11 of his PDK MPs voted against Pacolli.

The final result was more favourable for both Thaçi and Pacolli, but Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi declared that Thaçi’s mid-session meeting was unconstitutional, and went so far as to say that the solution had only been reached ‘with votes under pressure.’ Even Thaçi’s deputy, Fatmir Limaj, voiced his disapproval and declared that ‘tonight the worst possible solution was made.’ Opposition to the appointment too has been voiced by KLA veterans’ and civil society groups.

Objections within Kosovo are largely based on Pacolli’s close business connections with Russia. His Mabetex construction company has won lucrative state contracts in Russia and other former-Soviet countries, and it has been said that Pacolli’s continued business success relies on such contracts.

These strong connections have raised questions as to Pacolli’s true allegiances, especially given that Russia has so strongly opposed Kosovo’s independence and supported Serbia’s right to retain Kosovo inside its borders. Media within Kosovo has subsequently described Pacolli as the ‘Trojan horse of Russia.’

Yet despite misgivings about Pacolli’s legitimacy as Kosovo’s president amongst Kosovo’s Albanians, his election could serve to turn the tide in Kosovo’s favor in the international arena. During December’s election, Pacolli promised to accelerate and open doors of membership in international organizations and to prioritize new recognitions of Kosovo’s independence, which would boost Kosovo’s international profile.

Election promises aside, Pacolli also has an impressive record in lobbying countries to recognize Kosovo. He has taken credit for the recognition of 25 countries- and has thus been somewhat more successful so far than those within Kosovo’s government.

There are also voices in Belgrade who approve of Pacolli as president, which could prove to be an important starting point for improving relations between Kosovo and Serbia. This improvement in turn could prompt more countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence and increase the confidence of potential international investors in Kosovo.

Pacolli’s election as president comes at a time when Kosovo’s reputation in the international arena has been tarnished by persistent allegations of organ trafficking, allegedly carried out by members of the KLA during the 1999 war. Prime Minister Thaçi in particular has been implicated. Positive moves in terms of improving relations between Serbia and Kosovo would certainly help Kosovo’s international reputation.

One issue that could prove to be a sticking point for the international community is allegations that Pacolli participated in money laundering and corruption in Russia, as well as his alleged mafia connections inside Kosovo. This issue is particularly important for the EULEX rule of law mission and its goal of improving Kosovo’s weak justice system, especially in light of the high-profile organ-trafficking scandal.

Pacolli and his Mabetex company were investigated in 2001 but no charges were filed, and all investigations were eventually dropped. Western diplomats in Pristina have unofficially voiced concerns over Pacolli’s business dealings, but so far no one has publicly aired their concerns.

The importance of the rule of law in Kosovo has, however, been highlighted. In his first meeting with the new president, head of EULEX Xavier de Mahnac emphasized this point and asserted that ‘I came here to reassure the President that EULEX is dedicated to promote the rule of law all over Kosovo.’ EU Commissioners Catherine Ashton and Štefan Füle also declared in light of the presidential election that ‘we count on the new government to tackle its reform priorities, in particular, to… enhance the rule of law.’

So far, Behgjet Pacolli has indicated that he intends to toe the line of the international administration and has recited its mantra of multi-ethnicity; public statements by representatives of the ICO and EULEX in relation to his new role have thus been positive. If he can preserve these good relations with the internationals, and make peace with rival political factions within Kosovo, Pacolli’s election as president could well open international doors for Kosovo.

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