Former British Defence Minister: Kosovo, Bosnia, front lines

In his post titled “European reforms have given Putin an opportunity”, he says the Western Balkans is a “barpower”, which can easily be ignited by the Kremlin.

Four years ago, after visiting Marioupolis, the former British minister warned of the vulnerability of eastern Ukraine. Now he claims that the <x0thW West acted very little and very late”, denying Ukraine the status of an EU membership candidate and that NATO members refused to hand over weapons needed for proper protection.

The European Investment Bank did not support the remaining Ukraine regions, and Russia was allowed to drown trade in the Azov Sea, with little approval from Brussels.

We make the same mistakes in the Balkans. Countries like Serbia have been granted “Accession status”, but with no realistic prospects for joining the EU soon -- polls in Belgrade now show that public opinion is moving against it. The EU pays due respect to leaders like Vucicc, but does nothing to help build stronger civic institutions or signal a departure from democratic norms. The West doesn't seem to be defending its values. State-sponsored media are allowed to postpone free press and greater political responsibility”, he writes.

Fallon points out that as long as Putin needs to be stopped in Ukraine, “we must learn these lessons”.

New “Democrats need more than a waiting room: The EU must provide immediate temporary access to its markets and structural funds.

Candidate status would ensure better protection for Montenegro, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Poor judicial and legal systems must be strengthened.

We must increase NATO's presence there and make it clear that the constitutional and territorial integrity of these countries is important for all of us”, it is category Fallon.

He also cited the major role Great Britain should play:

“We must strengthen our diplomatic and military presence in both Kosovo and Bosnia. We already have our former chief of defense, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, as a special envoy. In addition to helping to combat serious crime and security, it has a broader mission to strengthen civil society and democratic institutions: we must provide it with resources it needs”.

We saw democracy under missile attack in Kiev

According to Fallon, Balkan wars ended the 20th century book, and Putin and Russia have not forgotten how they were humiliated by the conflict at Pristina airport in 1999.

If Serbia chooses further escalation, there will certainly be Russian support. Putin has already tried to destabilise the region: six years ago, a Russian-backed coup tried to prevent Montenegro from joining NATO. It was banned, but Russia did not lose interest. Whether he wins or loses in Ukraine, Putin does not want to see more countries receiving formal protection from the West”, he warns.

So, once again our Western values are in danger. Free elections, open media, responsible governance, independent judiciary. We should not make a mistake assuming they are in line only with full membership in the EU or NATO. On the contrary, we must reach outside our walls: make it easier and faster for candidates to membership and have the best incentive to make this”.

Finally, Fallon estimates that in the past Europe found ways to reconcile the most difficult ethnic and religious divisions and successfully exported that system of democracy around the world.

Now on our continent we have seen democracy under missile attack in Kiev. Thousands were killed in the recent Balkan conflict. Should we really look at the missiles falling back on Sarajevo and Pristina before the West takes action?