4 minutes agoAmerican Congressman: US must be neutral in dialogue, Kosovo should be welcomed by NATO
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)One of the co-chairmen of the Albanian Group of Affairs in the US Congress, lawmaker Ritchie Torres, says the international community seems to send Iran a clear message, that it will not be tolerated for any cyber attacks it makes on a sovereign country. New York Lawgiver is initiator of a draft resolution delivered a few days ago [...]
The lawmaker from New York is the initiator of a draft resolution delivered a few days ago to the House of Representatives, which condemns Tehran's cyber attacks on Albania, calls for strengthening this country's cyber defence.
During an interview for Voice of America, Mr. Torres adds he expects bilateral support for Albania, which he says is one of the biggest allies of the United States. The American lawmaker talks about the future of a Kosovo-Serbia agreement. He says Washington should not act as if it were a neutral mediator, in terms where Kosovo is an ally of the United States, while Serbia of Russia. So for Mr. Torres, the real challenge for closing dialogue between the two countries remains Belgrade's proximity to Moscow.
Voice of America: As far as Kosovo is concerned, recently, due to the war in Ukraine, we have seen increased Western attention for reaching a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. Do you see any real possibility that something might soon happen in this regard?
Ritchie Torres: I'm pessimistic because I think it's important that we understand the context. The United States should not act as if it were a neutral mediator. Kosovo is an ally of the United States, while Serbia is an ally of Russia, and that is a dynamic that we should accept as it is. We must admit that Serbia is one of the few countries loyal to Russia at a time when Russia has violated international law and attacked the sovereign state of Ukraine, and that is unacceptable to me. This is a problem for me. So I see as a real challenge to ending dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Serbia's proximity to Russia.
Voice of America: You have supported the need for Kosovo to become a NATO member. Do you think the place is ready for this step?
Ritchie Torres: Kosovo, for me, is an independent state and it is time for the world to recognise Kosovo's independence. It's time every place NATO and every European Union country to recognise Kosovo's independence and Kosovo to be welcomed in the European Union and NATO family. So I am fully supportive of its international recognition.
