US mocks Kosovo, strategy for disappearance of Russia from Balkans

The non-profit American organisation, “Atlantic Council”, has submitted the report, which outlines Washington's strategy in the Balkans.

The main elements for establishing the continued American military presence in Southeast Europe are <x0 historical reconciliation” with Serbia and “establishing US reputation as a real mediator”.

Although it has not been reported as an official plan in Washington, experts say. The Atlantic Council has weight, so there is a possibility that some of its advice will be adopted as a strategy. Strategic Alternative Centre Director Aleksandar Mitic in an interview for Sputnik stressed that the Atlantic Council is a lobby dealing with NATO enlargement, so it is understandable that their efforts are focused on Serbia, where most citizens oppose Alliance accession.

The strategy's “task was to reach the good neighbourly agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, according to the two Germanys model, creating conditions for Kosovo's admission to the United Nations. After that, recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia creates conditions for reducing the influence of Russia and China, as Serbia's two main allies at the UN Security Council”.

Competing parts is usually a two-way process, but not in this case, says researcher at the Rang Engelhard Institute. According to him, it would be naive to believe that the US is willing, for example, to pay the damages inflicted during NATO aggression in Yugoslavia:

“Historia and reconciliation in this case mean the reconciliation of Belgrade with the fact that Kosovo is independent, to join NATO and abandon relations with Russia”.

For Aleksandar Mitic an acceptable model of “historic reconciliation” is this:

“First, America must stop on Serbia's territory by supporting Albanians in Kosovo. Second, give up aspirations to abolish Republika Srpska. Third, to stop spreading worldwide to Serbs, as the only one responsible for the war in 1990, while all others were innocent. Fourth, abandoning efforts to drive the country into NATO against the will of citizens. Fifth, accept the active role of Russia and China in the Balkans “.

It is important that Damon Wilson's executive vice president's presentation of the Atlantic Council has mentioned reforming the basic Bondsteel, KFOR headquarters, NATO forces in Kosovo, which allows an ongoing American presence in southeast Europe.

George Engelhard notes that the Atlantic Council aims to act on the model used by the US in Baltic countries and Poland. The reduction of American presence in the Balkan region has started long ago when the operation in Afghanistan began. Now Bondsteel doesn't work overall, since the United States has other priorities and a large number of operations worldwide.

Bondsteel must become the cornerstone of the American military presence in the region. I don't think the US is ready to build new bases in the Balkans, for example, a maritime base in Montenegro. Now it's very expensive, even for the US “.

Engelhard believes that the Atlantic Council, a lobby, speaking of US mediation in resolving Balkan disputes, first offers its services to force Serbia to make concessions for Kosovo in dialogue on normalising relations with Pristina. Condolezza Rice, a special envoy for the Balkans, is said to be linked to this speech.

“in general, the US wants to return to the Balkans, but on behalf of others, mainly because of Brussels. They will be able to influence the processes, have access to the energy market, the reward for Balkan countries will be accession to the Balkans, the EU that does not depend on the US. What the Atlantic Council offers is a good business model, “concluded the expert.