Official NATO: Kosovo-Serbia reports, among most fundamental challenges for region

He confirms that NATO will do its best to help resolve this issue, while stressing its commitment to secure a safe environment in Kosovo.

Regarding measures warned by Secretary General NATO for future co-operation with the Kosovo Security Force, after the institutions of Kosovo adopted laws for its transformation into the military, Appathurai says this issue is still being discussed within NATO, but expresses security that the consequences will have.

High official of NATO in this interview also speaks of the process of membership of the countries of the region in NATO, since it says for Serbia that its political impartiality or military non-involvement does not prevent the Alliance from having good relations with this country.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Appathurai, very soon there is a year since NATO has invited Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to present the Annual National Programme (ANP). Nothing has moved in this direction. Is there a mechanism by which you can force the authorities to do so in Sarajevo?

James Appathurai: Of course there is. We have offered them an invitation, to say we are open to accept the National Annual Programme and we are still open to it. From our perspective, we want to hand over the plan because this gives us more opportunity to support reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I think that everyone, in all the government segments, but citizens also want reforms implemented and that allows us to help them. Of course, there are political echoes there, but it is actually a practical tool for us. So we're very open for the authorities there to send us the plan, but of course we don't force them, we don't impose anything. That depends on the country's institutions and citizens.

Radio Free Europe: When it comes to the government, the NATO issue is an obstacle to forming the government. How do you see NATO's role in the country's political future?

James Appathurai: It is important to explain that NATO has never decided as a condition that forming the government is in some form related to ANP. We don't need the government to make this an issue that determines whether or not they can form it. As far as we're concerned, of course we need it from the government and not from a part of it. This is very important. But this is an internal discussion in Bosnia about forming the government. We have not related these two matters.

Radio Free Europe: Is there any timetable for presenting the Annual Program? Your call from 2018, is it floating until they move forward or there is a limit when it means “is enough in”?

James Appathurai: There's no deadline. We can continue co-operation within the existing programme and that's what we do. We have an office in Bosnia that helps and supports defence reform. Defence reform is a very important part of the country's overall reform process because defence should be a national issue in every country of the world. We support and continue to support the development of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence, we have a programme for this, in agreement with the government. The ANP would freeze this to a higher level and that's why we're open to it, but there's no timeline and we don't impose anything on them.

Radio Free Europe: Is Bosnia a planted bomb?

James Appathurai: Let me say this, we co-operate for a long time with Bosnia. Our greatest concern is forming the government because forming the government will allow us to implement the reforms we believe are important for the country and which we support. And, of course, we're open and we'd like to see it. The ANP because we can implement more reforms. On the security issue, I think it is important to know that almost every country in Europe faces the issue of radicalism, the issue of returning foreign fighters from Syria. You and I are now talking in Belgium. As far as I know, Belgium has the largest number of fighters per capita who have gone to Syria to fight with the Islamic State. That's what I said, not to say that Bosnia doesn't have a problem. We all have challenges in large or smaller ways. Back where I started. One of the most effective ways to deal with radicalism and the return of fighters from foreign fronts is to have effective security institutions, border controls and radicalism programmes, all of which require reforms. Government formation, establishing an effective programme that NATO and the EU can support in some way is the best way to address this problem, which is a problem both in Bosnia and Europe.

Radio Free Europe: NATO has been and is a factor of stability in the Western Balkan region. Half of the countries are already members while the other half is waiting to join NATO. We have the question of North Macedonia. What is the timetable, will you respect last year's membership of Northern Macedonia, or will you speed up the process, to repair, in some way the damage the EU caused when it closed its doors to this country?

James Appathurai: You're absolutely right. NATO has been committed to security in the Western Balkans. We have and still have military operations there, we have a reform programme with every non-member country, we have three offices in the region that support reforms. Thus, citizens of the entire region can be absolutely sure that NATO was committed to the Western Balkans and that it would remain such. When it comes to open door, as we call the admission of new members, we are exactly according to plan. We have already accepted Montenegro and are waiting to complete the procedures to all NATO members for North Macedonia's accession. But it is not even questioned whether this will happen. The only serious factor in this is delays in forming the government in Spain. As you know, they've had several choices and they have some mechanisms for the government to form so that the next steps will happen, and they're going to happen. We expect that early spring North Macedonia will join the Alliance. So, we are respecting schedules and so will stay and I hope that at the Summit of Leaders, which will be held in London in early December, it will be clear to all that Northern Macedonia is on the doorstep and will soon join us.

Radio Free Europe: At the same time in spring, there will be a year since NATO, more precisely, Secretary General NATO strongly warned Kosovo authorities of their decision to form the Kosovo Army and transform the Kosovo Security Force. A ministerial meeting was held here at NATO headquarters where you announced you would come up with some decisions later in the year. But, actually, nothing happened?

Radio Free Europe: But this has never been questioned?

James Appathurai: It has not been questioned, but some have asked if KFOR's role is meant as well. But we didn't think that. So people can make sure that the military operation remains and will continue to do its job, which is to provide security and a safe environment. When it comes to what kind of assistance for reform NATO will offer the Kosovo Security Force or potentially a future Kosovo Army, we are now considering from within what it means. This is a practical but political debate on the effects of Kosovo and its relations with neighbours. But it is also no secret that we in the Alliance also have the problem of states that know and do not recognise Kosovo. This is a complicated issue for them. We need to discuss this a little bit more and I'm almost sure there will be some consequences, but we haven't done that yet.

Radio Free Europe: But these implications concern the Kosovo Security Force rather than Kosovo. Because in some previous presentations, the Secretary General is referring to relations between NATO and Kosovo?

James Appathurai: From the way I look at things, the real consequences have to do with supporting the Kosovo Security Force or the Kosovo Army. Of course, there are even bigger political issues related to our support, for example our support for dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. But NATO is committed to ensuring a safe environment, but also to contributing to better relations between Kosovo and its neighbours. We also have extraordinary relations with Serbia. Not many basic challenges remain in the Western Balkans, but one of them is the relationship between Pristina and Belgrade and the solution to the issue. Therefore, we want to do our utmost to contribute.

Radio Free Europe: But that probably does not affect NATO's relations with Serbia, given that it is the only country that does not want full NATO membership. Do you hope that at some point this neutrality will change and that Serbia will become one of the countries in the region that really try to become a NATO member?

James Appathurai: Honestly, we're not looking for new members. Our approach is to leave the door open for countries that meet standards and want to join. Serbia has made 100 per cent clear that it is not interested in membership either now or in the near future. We respect him. We respect their impartiality. We have excellent relations with Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Ireland. Political impartiality or military involvement is not a problem for us to have good practical and political relations with countries that have such an approach.

Radio Free Europe: Given NATO's role in building peace not only in the Western Balkans but also in other parts of the world, how do Alliance officials feel when they hear that this institution is said to be in a state of “brain death”?

James Appathurai: My brain and our brains are very good and we're alive. I need to speak in my name because we have no official position on this case. On the one hand, there are tensions between allies around northern Syria or disagreements about the living environment... I understand there is a political debate about this. On the other hand, what I think the meeting of NATO in early December in London will show it is a major NATO commitment. The collective protection is getting stronger and stronger. We have political relations with 40 countries in the world. We're dealing with new challenges like the universe, or new technologies, and we're adapting to these new types of problems, including threats coming from Russia, which we call hybrids: cyber attacks or deninforms. We are increasingly co-operating with the EU. In fact, ultimately essential is the fact that the alliance is adjusting. This will become clear at the summit of leaders. However, our leaders need to clarify some of the issues they should discuss together.

Radio Free Europe: One of the leaders is even questioning NATO's Article 5. At the London Summit, it was not scheduled to discuss Article 5 or NATO's future. Will these questions suddenly turn into the center of discussions in London next month?

James Appathurai: I don't think Article 5 is being questioned. What the president (of France, Emmanuel) Macron said had to do with US engagement in NATO. What I see is that during President Donald's (US) mandate, Trump, the US has increased its troop numbers in Europe more than President Obama (Barack); the number of military exercises in Europe has increased the amount of military equipment in Europe, but also brings political issues to the table that concern the United States. For example, discussing China as a challenge but also a new opportunity. What I see, but also most of the countries, if not all, is a greater US commitment to NATO, both in European security and military and political terms. And that will be perfectly clear.