We Need to Putin-Proof the Balkans Now (Observer)
Southeastern Europe is entering renewed crisis—and Moscow is fomenting more chaos at a dangerous time
Southeastern Europe is entering renewed crisis—and Moscow is fomenting more chaos at a dangerous time
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs late last week issued a statement reacting to "a series of recent statements by various Albanian politicians."
These statements that concern "the redrawing of borders in the Balkans" have raised particular concern, the Russian MFA said.
The European Union has said that "political interference undermines the consolidation of good neighborly relations."
This was the organization's reaction to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama saying that "a union" between Albania and Kosovo "cannot be ruled out" if EU membership prospects for the region fade.
John McCain, United States Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, talked to European Western Balkans about the importance of the accession of Montenegro and the Russian influence in the region. Asked about his opinion about the importance of the accession of Montenegro into NATO despite its small size and an army of less than 2000 soldiers, senator McCain talked about his meeting with General Scapariotti, the Head of the United States European Command on Thursday.
Kosovo delegation led by Kosovo Assembly Deputy Presidents, Xhavit Haliti, and Slobodan Petrovic, are participating at the works of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, in Sarajevo.
During the three-day “Rose Roth” meeting, of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, they will analyze the political and security situation in the region and countries that are undergoing major security crisis, war against international terrorism, security in Europe, lowering of nationalist tensions among Balkans states and nations.
Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić says for TV Happy that he does not think that US today is directly against the formation of the army of Kosovo but they think that the moment was not good.
He said that the reaction of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was different, and that he was sharper on the issue of the formation of the army.
"These are nuances, but we need to care of them. He was sharper on this issue and I thank him for that," said Vučić in TV Happy.
Most media report that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has sent a letter to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and NATO member states on the eve of the NATO summit, explaining the process of the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). The summit, among other issues, is also expected to discuss Thaci’s initiative to amend the law on the Kosovo Security Force.
Kosovo’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Rexhep Hoti, said in a debate on RTV21 on Thursday that the Kosovo Army will be formed next week and that the process is in line with the constitution and in cooperation with Kosovo’s international partners. Hoti said President Hashim Thaci in his recent address said that Kosovo’s Army has been projected together with the United States of America and NATO and that this is an unstoppable process. “The time of the army is now and the concern of our international partners – the U.S.
PRISTINA — Kosovo marked another milestone in its state-building process this week by moving to establish Kosovo’s own defense forces. A multi-ethnic organization established post-independence under strict scrutiny from NATO, the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) will soon assume a new role as a military defense force.
Enver Robelli writes today in his opinion piece that Hashim Thaci’s and his dependents’ concerns, are not Kosovo’s concerns, therefore Pristina should coordinate with NATO, the U.S. and the EU with regards to the creation of the army.