Interview by Emrah Usta (JTW)

Journal of Turkish Weekly conducted an exclusive interview with Erdoan Shipoli who is a teaching assistant at Fatih University, in Istanbul and a senior researcher at "Praxis" think-tank in Kosovo. His research interests are the Balkans, Kosovo, security issues, negotiations, inter-ethnic dialogue, diplomacy, and international relations.

Q: The independence of Kosovo has been much debated in relation of the issue of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. According to Turkish scholars, the two countries have similarities regarding the independence issue and the independence of Kosovo can set a precedent for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. So, in your opinion, can Kosovo serve as a precedent for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus?

Erdoan Shipoli: It is true that the independence of Kosovo has been a much debated issue everywhere, including Turkey in the context of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. These two issues may have similarities, but they also have many differences. What I must point out is that the independence of Kosovo came after a genocide or genocide-attempt. Prior to that the people in Kosovo asked for autonomy and their universal human rights, which were violated by the Serbian state.

The Turkish intervention in the Northern Cyprus, which was in accordance with the treaty between Greece, Turkey, and the UK, on the other hand, came out after the coup in Greece. This way we can argue that the Turkish intervention in the island was an action according to the treaty, whereas there were no attempts of genocide from any part. If you ask why I mention genocide at all times, it is because that is the issue that does not permit the people to live under one state. You cannot imagine Kosovo under Serbia today, but I can imagine a united Cyprus, as much as I can imagine two internationally recognized states in the island.

Another issue is that Kosovo was historically not part of Serbia, but a part of Yugoslavia, up until Milosevic took its autonomy in late 1980s. So with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Kosovo has won the right of being a state in itself. Finally, I think that we shall take every case separately, as the actors and the situations are all different. So, I don't think that Kosovo shall be taken as a precedent for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, or any other place. But, I don't argue that the independence of Kosovo can also be explained by taking any other examples, such as Bosnia or others, also. I think that the independence of Kosovo is legitimate due to the fact that it was not a part of Serbia, the fact that there was a state attempt of genocide, and the free-will of people. So, we have to ask these questions for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: What is the will of people? What are the intentions of the guaranteeing powers (they shall not be to invade any other part of the island)? And what does the international law say about this?

Q: The International Court of Justice issued an advisory decision on the legitimacy of the independence of Kosovo on 22 July, 2010. The decision states "There is no clear legal criteria forbidding the declaration of independence by a given territory in international law" and therefore the independence of Kosovo got a legal status. In the meantime, the "competency of the Court" has been brought into question by -particularly- Serbia and there were attempts to bring the status of the Court into the question in the international arena. So, in your opinion, can the independence of Kosovo be discussed again after all these.

Erdoan Shipoli: This is something very interesting, Serbia itself sent the issue to the International Court of Justice, and today they are discussing the competency of the Court. This is very sad to hear, because we can see that Serbia does not intend to be constructive in bringing peace to the region, but still struggles to destabilize the region. The International Court of Justice is an institution which does not give binding decisions, but advisory ones. So what competency are we talking about? The members are international lawyers, and if the lawyers of the international law are not competent then who is? The independence of Kosovo can still be discussed but this brings nothing constructive and does not resolve any problem. Kosovo is recognized by most of the world powers, and is a de facto independent state for ten years now. I think that now it is time forget about the independence of Kosovo, and focus on solving the problems in Balkans, furthering cooperation, development, etc. Unfortunately there are some other countries, out of Serbia, who want to continue discussing the independence of Kosovo, with the only thing in mind: don't let the Balkans. As an answer, I think that all the rational countries shall recognize Kosovo, so this issue is closed once and for all, and then the states in Balkans, including Kosovo and Serbia, use their energy to search for ways to cooperate and develop their economies, infrastructure, democracy, education, etc.

Q: It can be said there is a cultural connection between Turkish people and Kosovo when the history of the country is considered. Moreover, it is observable that Turkish investors have a significant effect on the development of Kosovo. What do you think about for Turkish enterprisers?

Erdoan Shipoli: Turkey and Kosovo were part of the Ottoman Empire, this is crucial when we speak of the relations of these two. So, of course there are historical, cultural, emotional bounds between these two countries. But beside that I think that there is something else that characterizes this part of the world; maybe the temper of the people, the mentality, or something else, but it is a characteristic that makes the people of this region alike. Kosovo is a newborn country, so Turkey has an obligation to help the Kosovo, and Turkish people have an obligation to invest and try to rebuild the country. Turkey is not sufficient for the trade and production capacity it has, so it needs places where to produce goods and services, and market it around the world. Kosovo, on the other hand, has no production, and it needs production. So this is a win-win game.

Despite the economic significance of the Turkish enterprises, in Kosovo and the region, it also owns the significance of breaking the incorrect and constructed myths about the enmity of Turkey and these countries. These investments encourage the people to travel and know the other nations that lived together for more than 500 years. Nevertheless I expect more investments of Turkish businessmen, in Kosovo and the Balkans as a whole. For one reason is that there are good opportunities there, and for the second that the Turkish businessmen are more risk-takers than the westerners, so they are the ones who shall step in the wilds of the Balkan market and production, otherwise no one will.

Q: Recently, Turkey seems to adopt a "Zero-Problem Neighborhood" foreign policy. Within this framework, it is discussed that peace and security should be taken as a basis in the Balkan policy of Turkey. As a strategist, what do you think about the policy of Turkey on Balkans?

Erdoan Shipoli: I follow the new Turkish foreign policy with high appreciation. One of my interests is the securitization theory, and how issues are securitized, so I am happy to see that Turkish politicians are abandoning the securitization of Turkish foreign policy. What Turkey does in the Middle East is very important, and crucial, for the peace in Middle East. But, I think that it is time for Turkey to focus in Balkans. Having problems in Middle East stays there, whereas the problems, conflicts, in the Balkans defuse, and they affect the whole globe. Recent Turkish focus in Balkans seemed to play a very constructive role. I think that Turkey shall continuously increase this politics of engagement. I don't recommend that Turkey leaves Middle East, but I suggest that the constructive role of Turkey in the Middle East shall be extended to Balkans also. Turkey has a very strategic importance, as it can be seen in the Middle East, without Turkey solution is difficult. So is the situation in Balkans; with Turkish help the situation there can be improved, without Turkish help the stability initiatives will be unsuccessful in the long term.