8 minutes agoStoltenberg: Violence is turning Kosovo back, steps must be taken for deespassion
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said the violence is turning Kosovo and the entire region back, until it has also sought to access the situation in the country's north. “Dhuna is turning Kosovo and the entire region around, questioning Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Both Pristina and Belgrade must take concrete steps for [...]
“Dhuna is turning Kosovo and the entire region around, questioning Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Both Pristina and Belgrade must take concrete steps to de-tradition the situation, refrain from further irresponsible behaviour and engage in dialogue with the support of the EU, which is the only way to lasting peace”, he told the Montenegrin newspaper “Pobjeda”.
He said NATO strongly condemns the recent unprotested attacks on KFOR troops in northern Kosovo, in which almost 40 peacekeepers were injured.
“Such problems are unacceptable and should be stopped”, he said.
Stoltenberg also mentioned <x0 foreign reactors” in the region working to undermine peace.
“The region has come a long way since the conflicts of the 1990s, but we have seen repeated tensions, including those in Kosovo as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with more aggressive rhetoric, stalled reforms and foreign actors working to undermine progress. NATO has a long history in promoting peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Our new strategic concept, adopted at the Madrid Summit last year, reaffirms the region's strategic importance for the Alliance. We agree on the importance of our presence in the region, including our KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and our offices in Sarajevo and Belgrade”.
Secretary NATO also spoke of increasing its presence in Kosovo after tensions erupted in the north.
We are sending another 500 soldiers to Kosovo from operational reserves for the Western Balkans, and we have put an additional reserve battalion on hold so that they can be deployed as needed. These are careful steps to ensure that KFOR has the forces and capabilities it needs to fulfil its” mandate.
He said KFOR's mission would take all necessary actions to preserve a safe and secure environment, as well as freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.
“NATO will continue to play its role in supporting lasting security in Kosovo and stability throughout the Western Balkans”.
