A conference of great importance for Kosovo was held under the auspices of DARDANIA College in Prishtina

The conference brought together Kosovo scholars and politicians to debate with East Timor’s guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmão, who led the country from 1981 until independence in the summer of 1999. With Kosovo, many things unite, no not only the gaining of freedom in the summer of the same distant year 1999, but also the suffering and titanic efforts of the two countries for independence from the colonial powers, Indonesia and Yugoslavia respectively, countries that were sold in the world as non-aligned and peace-loving and in favor of self-determination of peoples. This foreign policy of these two ruling countries has been only for external consumption, and domestically, for decades both engaged in suppressing the aspirations for freedom of the people of East Timor and Kosovo respectively. This was the essence of the opening speech of this conference.

Leader Gusmão, in his introductory speech, with unparalleled eloquence presented the history of his country, the struggle for independence and the superhuman efforts to survive against the Indonesian repression to keep his country under occupation. The reason for holding his country hostage to colonial policies, the Timurid leader said, had more to do with the exploitation of his country’s natural resources than with any global geostrategy. What a coincidence with Kosovo and its natural resources, which Serbia has exploited without mercy! It is not that the Cold War had no effect on hindering the country’s independence, Gusmão said, but not decisively, because, after all, after its end in 1990, Indonesia continues with repression and the old ruse of brutal repression against the Timurid people. What stood out most from the first speaker of this conference, Mr. Gusmão, had to do with the post-war reconstruction and independence policies of the country, in particular those related to reconciliation between the parties. Here he expressed skepticism about the Kosovo case because, unlike Indonesia, which had recognized his country’s independence, Serbia would hardly do such a thing for Kosovo. This is a serious obstacle to reconciliation. In addition, as Gusmão said, Indonesia has acknowledged the crimes committed in its country, which the Serbian state did not do. This, too, posed a serious obstacle to reaching reconciliation between the parties, Gusmão concluded.

Other speakers, both local and international, were added to the conference panel. Among the locals was the experience of Kosovo, which was shared with the participants by the former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Professor Avdullah Hoti, Mrs. Edita Tahiri, as the former chief negotiator of Kosovo for seven years and, finally, the former President of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, prof. . Enver Hasani. In fact, the latter asked only one commenting question, stating that legally East Timor was an Indonesian colony and had the right to full self-determination, which was denied by Indonesia, which is not the case with Kosovo because it is a matter of secession. from a sovereign state. Mr. Gusmão also agreed with this statement, in the form of a question, on the similarities and differences with East Timor, saying that it is a serious obstacle for Kosovo and additional difficulties in the dialogue process with Serbia. In particular, this will be reflected in Kosovo’s membership in the UN, said Mr. Gusmão, based on his experience with East Timor and the dynamics that are developing in the UN about the recognition and accession of new countries.

Former Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti convincingly witnessed the efforts of the Kosovo side for reconciliation and reaching an agreement and the ongoing sabotage by the Serbian side. Mr. Hoti in particular highlighted the assistance of the American and European side in the dialogue with the Serbs, emphasizing in particular that the process will be difficult. Reaching the Washington Agreement and recognition by Israel were singled out as two great achievements made by him as Prime Minister of Kosovo.

Ms. Edita Tahiri shared with the participants her long experience with the Serbs and their myth of Kosovo, something that was foreign to the others who attended the conference. Mr. Gusmão found it difficult to believe that the Serbian myth constituted the real force behind the obstacle to dialogue and agreement, believing more in the considerations of exploiting Kosovo as the cause for any successful dialogue. However, Ms. Edita noted that dialogue has no alternative and that we must adhere to the line of our allies for a confident and serious dialogue, something that recently seems to be missing from the Kosovar side.

One of the conference participants asked a question, in fact, the first question addressed to Mr. Gusmão, which had to do with how to reach reconciliation with the Serbs when, according to the experience of the questioner during his visit to Kosovo, any family had someone killed. The answer to this was given by another participant, with a colossal experience in peacekeeping and reconciliation of peoples. We are talking about the respected participant Dr. Hasegawa Sukehiro, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for East Timor and Head of Mission in the country from 2004 to 2006.

His own question Dr. H. Sukehiro started with Hegel, quoting the latter’s idea that man must appropriate himself in order to be useful to others. By this he meant that Kosovars must overcome themselves, not just the bad experience of repression and suffering under Serbia. Mr. Gusmão agreed with this, who called it necessary for Kosovars to reach out for reconciliation and move forward, not becoming a slave to the past.

If you want to achieve recognition you have to forgive, but never forget the past. That was the essence of the whole conference message and keynote speeches of Mr. Gusmão and the former UN chief in East Timor.

The conference was planned to last less than an hour, while it lasted more than an hour and a half due to the great interest of the participants to hear the experience of East Timor, and how I can learn Kosovo from this country that gained independence his same summer when Kosovo was still without freedom after almost a century of Serbian rule.