American analyst: NATO done with Belgrade, Serbia threatens intervention in Kosovo

American analyst Daniel Serwer has declared that NATO is supporting Belgrade, as it is rejecting the establishment of the Kosovo Army.

In an authorial writing, Serwer says Serbia is threatening to intervene in Kosovo if the Kosovo Assembly votes to create the military.

Kosovo has no army since NATO's intervention in 1999 that saved it from President Milosevic's efforts to reduce its Albanian population by force and its declaration of independence in 2008. NATO has secured the country's territorial protection, even though it governs itself and is recognised as a sovereign state by about 110 countries, he says.

American Serwer adds that Pristina now wants to convert its security forces, which are easily armed, into an army.

“The US, Great Britain and NATO have been consulted thoroughly. The process will last 10 years or more. If NATO forces ever leave Kosovo and are sent to high priority missions, the country will have to have the means to protect itself for at least a few days. NATO must support those who want to ease its burden, not those who threaten aggression”, the analyst estimates.

Serwer, professor at Johns Hopkins University, says the Kosovo Army has nothing to do with threatening the future in the region.

What Serbia is trying to do is deprive Pristina of one of the vital elements of sovereignty. It is also trying to find an excuse to intervene and conquer the majority Serb part of northern Kosovo, where they figure organised crime figures in line with the Belgrade government authorities”, he says.

Serwer calls the support that according to him a serious mistake, NATO is giving it to the Belgrade agenda.

The American has also appeared critical of the EU for extending the deadline for visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

However, Serwer calls the Government of Kosovo's decision to impose taxes on Serbia's products as a mistake.

“Tarifat of 100% that recently imposed on Serbia's imports are violating its international obligations under the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), but this mistake will be corrected through the normal CEFTA process”, he said.

According to the analyst, Kosovo as much as Serbia needs Euro-Atlantic prospects if both countries will escape the negative spiral in which they are closed.

American analyst Daniel Serwer, an interview for the “life show in Kosovo” in September of this year, had sharply rejected President Hashim Thaci's idea of “border correction”.