“Putin is using Belgrade for the imperial dream”, Clark: Serbia will finally recognise Kosovo

Former Commander General NATO, Wesley Clark, has said Serbia will eventually recognise Kosovo's independence. He has also spoken of a possible conflict in the Balkans, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to use Serbia for Russia's imperial dream.

Clark, speaking of the current geopolitical context, and whether Russia is using Serbia to destabilise the Balkan region, has said Serbia has been Russia's most loyal friend for 150 years.

Even before the communists took power and made it the Soviet Union, the cock was using Serbia to support Russian imperial ambitions in the region”, Clark said in an interview for A2 CNN.

He also said that “Vladimir Putin, who lives in an imaginary universe where he thinks he can turn the time of civilization, where he thinks people don't want freedom, that they want to live under the yoke of an imperial Russian. This is Mr. Putin's dream. And it would destabilise the Balkans in trying to protect Russia's imperial dream”.

Clark said there may be in the Balkans, but it is not something that can be accurately predicted.

“I think KFOR's presence is an important factor. I think the good work of Ambassador Chris Hill in Serbia is also a positive factor. So I think we are doing what we can from the United States' perspective and from NATO's perspective to make sure there is no new conflict in the Balkans. But, you know, much depends on what happens in Ukraine. Western States and Washington must intensify efforts to give Ukraine more military assistance and help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression”.

Asked why even 25 years after NATO's campaign, Kosovo is still struggling for admission into the international community, and Serbia continues to reject independence, Clark said a large part of the resistance is being driven by Russia, which does not want to recognise Kosovo's independence. And I think Russia is using this issue to create a rift between Western democracies”.

Clark has also spoken of the pressure the international community is making on Kosovo, while Serbia remains unpunished for the terrorist attack on Banjska.

When I analyze the balance of the international community, I see a lot of pressure on Serbia. And I think the pressure is guaranteed because Serbia is trying to play with two gates. I think on the one hand, smart people in Serbia realize that it is necessary to have their relations with the West, but I think that the historical pole and some of the radical parties in Serbia are still trying to advance their selfish interests to preserve their relationship with Russia. And Serbia will have to understand that. I can't play with two doors.

Clark speaking of dialogue and efforts to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia, Clark has said Serbia will recognise Kosovo.

“I think Serbia will eventually recognise Kosovo as a state. I think much will depend on how the war in Ukraine ends. If Ukraine is accepted as a NATO member and how Russia will respond to this. And finally, as President Obama said, history will bend by justice. And I think that justice in this case is what Serbs will put aside their historic ambitions and uncertainties and pass into the 21st century. The same should be done by Kosovo and all other countries in the region”, he said.

The American general has also spoken about the membership of Kosovo and Serbia in NATO.

“I think there are political issues with Serbia. I don't think it's ready to join NATO. It would be surprising if it happened. If Serbia could deal with problematic issues it would be welcome to join NATO. I think that would be a wonderful thing. I would also like to see Kosovo also in NATO. There are some specific things that must be done to be ready for membership in the alliance, and I would have to go into specific details to assess the readiness to join, and I didn't do that. But I think in principle it would be a wonderful thing if the entire Balkans were in NATO”, Clark said.