German MP urges increased number of soldiers in KFOR, “Serbia is threatening Kosovo”

Where did conflict again surfaced on our continent after 1945? In the Western Balkans, starting with the Kosovo dispute. The breakup of Yugoslavia began in 1991 with growing nationalism in Belgrade on the issue of who owns Kosovo. Whether Kosovo is autonomous or should remain part of the former Yugoslavia. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and since then more than a hundred countries have recognised Kosovo at the UN, but the conflict still exists. That is demonstrated by tensions and threats of armed conflict by the government of Serbia several weeks ago”, said Bundestag deputy Addis Ahemtovic, broadcasts the DW in Serbian-Croat language.

He then says that, “against that, there is rarely a broad political debate on this conflict in Germany. The situation is similar to the ethno-nationalist events in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro”, Ahmetovic says, adding that this is “fatal”.

The SPD politician also says the latest “events in Kosovo once again revealed the indecisiveness of the European Union”.

“Again, the US had to intervene to calm the situation”. So he believes “The EU urgently needs to become more independent in terms of security policy, including the Western Balkans”, and adds that it is pleased that “kancellari announced a turning point in security and foreign policy”.

It's important for our safety if Trump or Biden rule in the United States. Trump played the idea of withdrawing from NATO and wanted to solve problems in the Western Balkans by allowing the movement of borders, consulting Russia. Biden has a different view. It is a beacon of hope for people there who stand behind the EU and democracy and do not lean from Moscow and autocratia”, says Ahmetovic, broadcast Klankosova.tv.

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“Berliner Zeitung” emphasises that problems between Serbia and Kosovo are seemingly insignificant and mentions plates, asking Ahmetovic why he is still concerned.

The “Barricades have been established in northern Kosovo even in the 1990s, just prior to the outbreak of Yugoslav wars. Serbia recently put its army on alert and urged the international community to take care of peace on its own. So the army nearly marched to another country”, says German politician.

He adds that, seen from abroad and given the potential for initial conflicts, the situation between Serbia and Kosovo is similar to that between Ukraine and Russia, though at different degrees.

I believe the situation in the Western Balkans would be even more dangerous if the war in Ukraine had taken another turn. But the fact that the West is now united and that Ukraine strongly opposes Russia makes an impression on the nationalist forces, that is, the government of Serbia. Serbian politicians have recently formulated the goal of creating so-called Great Serbia. This can only succeed if, among other things, Kosovo is annexed. That ethno-nationalist course reminds you of the Kremlin and has Putin's support”.

The more the EU supports Kosovo in its democratisation, the stronger is Serbia's attempt to prevent it politically and if necessary militaryly. Previous EU efforts to find a middle road did not lead to the desired outcome. That is why we have to constantly contribute to a unified EU position to recognise Kosovo as a whole and stop any attempts to move the border. This serves the stable peace of both countries”, Ahmetovic believes.

Asked what the EU should do, SPD politician says: “Time is leaving. We must not allow another escalation. There should be no Serbia's military domination of KFOR, which with its 3,500 soldiers currently is not strong enough in 1999 there were almost 50,000 of them. We need more soldiers again, including from Germany”.

“Moscow actively supports Serbian government”

Responding to the question of whether this is the position of the entire German ruling coalition, Ahmetovic says the time will tell. The SPD parliamentary group placed the Kosovo issue on the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Commission agenda. Among other things, it will have to be clarified if there is already information that Russia has sent Wagner groups to the region to further destabilise it. Moscow actively supports the Serbian government and wants to cause divisions in Europe even from there”, Ahmetovic estimates.

At the end of the interview, German newspaper reporter stresses that “over the past few decades, the West has left no real signs of promoting democracy in conflicted regions and asks: Isn't it time to reduce that little?”

“This is a legitimate questions”, Ahmetovic answers. “But what would happen if the West remained restrained in the Western Balkans? I suppose that in late December 2022, Serbian soldiers would have entered Kosovo very soon if KFOR were not. It's like Ukraine. If the West had not supported him financially and with weapons, Putin would certainly have achieved his goals”, Addis Ahmetovic of the German SPD concludes.