The war that broke out in Syria in 2011 did not remain a distant crisis for Kosovo. It quickly turned into a concrete security and political challenge, with consequences that were directly felt in Pristina.
The conflict, which began as an uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad and then turned into an arena of regional and global clashes, also attracted hundreds of citizens of Kosovo.
About 400 of them – men, women and children – traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State militant group, which, alongside other armed actors, was fighting to overthrow the Assad regime.
The phenomenon of foreign fighters exposed Kosovo to serious risks of radicalization and security, forcing the state to intervene institutionally.
In 2015, authorities passed a law that banned and sanctioned the participation of Kosovar citizens in foreign wars, including the one in Syria.
The Islamic State was militarily defeated in 2019. Since then, some of the Kosovo citizens have been repatriated and treated in accordance with applicable legislation; others lost their lives in the fighting, while a number still remain in Syria.
Today, the political reality of this country is radically different.
Assad's more than two-decade-old regime was overthrown at the end of last year and Ahmed al-Sharaa - a former figure linked to jihadist movements, who is now positioned as a transitional leader, with the support of the United States, Turkey and European Union countries - took power.
In this new reality, Syria recognized Kosovo's statehood at the end of October, opening a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
But this recognition, in addition to diplomatic opportunities, also brought to attention a number of sensitive questions: what will happen to Kosovo citizens who joined the Islamic State and are still in Syria, and will this issue become part of the future bilateral agenda between Pristina and Damascus?
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty addressed these questions to both the new Syrian Government and the Office of the President of Kosovo, which officially accepted the recognition from Damascus, but, even after almost a week of waiting, received no response from either party.
REL, through its own sources, also tried to contact several Kosovar citizens in Syria, but without success.
Legal clarity, political dilemma
Arianit Shehu, executive director of the American Center for Countering Extremism and Terrorism, believes that the issue of foreign fighters from Kosovo who have gone to Syria must be addressed with full legal clarity and state responsibility.
According to him, every citizen of Kosovo who has participated in foreign conflicts must, upon return, be subject to the legislation of the Republic of Kosovo for foreign fighters without exception.
"Respect for the law is a prerequisite for national security, the rule of law and the credibility of state institutions, as well as for protecting society from the dangers of radicalism and violent extremism," Shehu emphasizes for Radio Free Europe.
He adds that the handling of these cases should be fair and professional, in line with international standards, combining criminal justice with deradicalization and reintegration programs, where possible.
A more diplomatic perspective is offered by Albert Prenkaj, former Kosovo ambassador to Italy. He emphasizes that Kosovo authorities have never banned foreign fighters from returning to the country, but that in all cases they have been treated in accordance with the laws in force.
According to Prenkaj, in Syria, foreign fighters of Kosovo origin are often perceived as individuals who contributed to the overthrow of the Assad regime.
However, he believes that any eventual role they may have in building a democratic society in Syria must be accompanied by a transformation of ideas and a break from radical beliefs.
He emphasizes that this is a relatively small number of individuals and expresses hope that the new Syrian leadership, with the consolidation of democratic institutions, will be able to play a role in rehabilitating their position.
"I believe that, if Ahmed al-Sharaa manages to consolidate as president in a Syria with democratic institutions, he will also have the responsibility to help rehabilitate these citizens - Albanians from Kosovo," Prenkaj tells Radio Free Europe.
According to him, rehabilitation also means their integration into Syrian society, considering that most have already created families and stable lives in Syria.
Damascus historian Muhamed Mufaku, originally from Kosovo and an external member of its Academy of Sciences and Arts, says that, currently, there are only a few dozen foreign fighters of Kosovo origin in Syria.
According to the information he has, none of them intend to return to their country of origin.
"As long as these laws exist in Kosovo and North Macedonia, they practically cannot return. They have been well received here, some have married Syrian women, have settled down, have good positions and living conditions... This, in a way, is also a solution," Mufaku tells Radio Free Europe.
He expects the approach to the treatment of foreign fighters by countries of origin to change, given the new relationships that the United States and European countries have built with the new Syrian leadership.
According to Mufaku, the fact that the current president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa - who was once pursued by the US as the leader of a terrorist organization - has now visited the White House, testifies to profound changes in American attitudes.
"The entire reality is changing 180 degrees. In this new political environment, even foreign fighters are clear that Syria is no longer a terrain for building an Islamic state," says Mufaku.
He adds that Syria is transforming from a traditionally anti-American country into an increasingly pro-American state - a development that, according to him, is also expected to affect relations with US allies, including Kosovo.
The Albanian community in Syria
Foreign fighters from Kosovo are not the only Albanians living in Syria. There has been an Albanian community in the country for decades, known as "Arnaout" - an ethnonym used for Albanians since the Ottoman Empire.
After the dissolution of this empire in 1922, during the period between the two world wars, but also after World War II, several thousand Albanians from the Balkans moved to Syria, creating a stable and integrated community in local society.
According to historian Mufaku, the Albanian community in Syria today consists of about 8.000 people. Most are Albanians originally from Kosovo, but also from Albania and North Macedonia. About half of them live in Damascus, while the rest are scattered in several cities in the country.
During the civil war, which broke out in 2011 and lasted for about 15 years, this community was also hit hard. Among the thousands of Syrian victims were dozens of Albanians, while several hundred others were forced to flee, mainly to Turkey and European Union countries.
Mufaku says that the Albanian community welcomed the fall of the Assad regime with hope and joy, seeing it as an opportunity to improve its position in a new Syria.
"The new Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, came to power thanks to the military formations that remained loyal to him and fought with him and for him. Among them was an Albanian formation. On the other hand, from day one, the spokesperson for the new leadership was an 'Arnaoute', Obaida Arnaout," says Mufaku.
According to him, the Albanian community expects these connections and this role to be reflected in the institutional treatment by the new Syrian government.
"Hopes are high, but we are still waiting. Syria is in transition and it takes time to see how Albanians will really benefit from this new freedom," he adds.
Shehu, executive director of the American Center for Combating Extremism and Terrorism, who has previously visited Damascus, estimates that the Albanian community in Syria has been forgotten and marginalized for years - often outside of any institutional attention.
However, according to him, Albanians in Syria have managed to preserve their language, traditions, customs and sense of national belonging, despite difficult circumstances.
"For this reason, it is a moral and national obligation for the institutions of Kosovo and Albania to take serious and coordinated steps for institutional, cultural, educational and consular support, so that the Albanians of Syria do not remain a forgotten chapter, but a living and protected part of the Albanian nation," Shehu emphasizes.
"Patience" and "care" in building diplomatic relations
The handling of the issue of the Albanian community in Syria, as well as foreign fighters originating from Kosovo, is closely related to the establishment of bilateral and diplomatic relations between Pristina and Damascus.
Observers of developments in Kosovo and the Middle East assess that establishing diplomatic relations is a natural step, but one that requires time, prudence, and careful coordination.
"Both countries need to be patient in this process," says Mufaku.
According to him, both Kosovo and Syria are facing serious internal challenges. Kosovo is involved in internal political processes, including electoral ones, while Syria is in a deep state transition.
"The new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is trying to maintain a careful balance between East and West," says Mufaku, adding that he does not expect the more delicate diplomatic issues between Kosovo and Syria to be addressed for at least another two to three years.
Former Ambassador Prenkaj believes that the very fact that the two countries have recognized each other constitutes a clear signal of readiness to establish diplomatic relations.
But, according to him, Kosovo must show special care in planning these reports, taking into account the continuous coordination with its main allies, the United States of America and the countries of the European Union.
"Every time Kosovo has established bilateral relations, it has been done in coordination with the US and in accordance with its foreign and security policies, as well as with the policies of the European Union," says Prenkaj, adding that Kosovo does not need to rush this process.
Shehu also expresses himself in the same vein, assessing that the move towards establishing diplomatic relations with Syria must be done with prudence and strategic vision, in full coordination with the US and European partners.
"Such an approach would enable Kosovo to address sensitive issues – from the position of the Albanian community in Syria, to security, legal aspects and economic interests – in an institutional and structured manner within a bilateral framework," Shehu emphasizes.
On the first anniversary of the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, sent a congratulatory message through a video recording on the occasion of Syria's Liberation Day.
"Dear friends in Syria, please know that Kosovo is with you. We will be your partner, your friend and your ally every step of the way...", said Osmani, among other things.
Observers consider this message as a positive signal towards building relations with Syria, however, it is not clear whether any form of direct communication between the two sides has already begun.
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