an hour agoFormer American General: NATO must say again, again and again that KFOR leaves Kosovo
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Former US forces General in Europe Frederick Ben Hodges has talked about the security situation in the region and dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. He has also been asked about the appointment of the British emissary for the Western Balkans and whether it will be possible for Great Britain, America and Europe to work together [...]
Former US forces General in Europe Frederick Ben Hodges has talked about the security situation in the region and dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. He has also been asked about the appointment of the British emissary for the Western Balkans and whether it will be possible for Great Britain, America and Europe to work together on the issue of negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Hodges has said the US must have a proper strategy for the Western Balkans and stresses that NATO must repeat several times that the KFOR mission in Kosovo is to stay and that it will not leave.
“would be important for the EU, United Kingdom, the US and NATO to have a common position on what is happening in the Western Balkans. It is in everyone's interest to have increased economic and security stability in the region. We all need to work in a compatible manner on all key EU issues. To be serious about EU integration -- and to find a way to support the efforts of Serbia and other states to develop and modernise. I think the US should have the right strategy for the region, not any transition and I also want to stress that NATO should say clearly, again and again and again and again that the KFOR mission is here to stay and that it will not leave Kosovo”, Hoxhas told Kosovo Online.
Asked whether he is optimistic about dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Hodges has said he is and that leaders should be given the chance to negotiate.
This is important and I think the United States should support the process, work closely with the EU and other countries. The United Kingdom, of course, has to support these efforts, because this is a competition and if the West is not there to compete, then China and Russia will fill that gap and then I don't see a positive outcome for young people in the region”, Hoxhas said further.
Asked whether there would be a Kurti-Wucciq meeting, the former US general said it was important for leaders to meet and stressed that they must be protected from external influences.
Red lines should not be established, and we do not need lessons from those who have no interest that Kosovo and Serbia normalise reports”, has said further.
