Clark to REL: Russian ambitions undermine stability between Kosovo, Serbia

Clark has led NATO's air campaign against Serbian military targets in 1999.

In an interview given Radio Free Europe 25 years after the attacks ended, he says “Serbia is like a magnet attracting Russian imperial ambitions to Europe”.

Serbia must understand that its future is with the West. When Serbs understand that, there will be no problems with Kosovo”, Clark says.

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Radio Free Europe: General Clark, 25 years after the war ended, peace between Kosovo and Serbia does not look promising. Why, do you think?

Wesley Clark: Serbia does not want peace, and Kosovo does not want subdued independence.

Radio Free Europe: So what's the way out?

Wesley Clark: The breakthrough is Russia's defeat in Ukraine. Russia withdraws support for Serbia and Serbia realises its future lies with the West. When Serbs understand that, there will be no problems with Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Why does Russia continue to intervene in the region?

Wesley Clark: Russia has imperial ambitions. Everyone in Eastern Europe knows that. All who are not Russia, Moscow views them as smaller beings.

Serbia is like a magnet attracting Russian imperial ambitions to Europe. Today, it serves as infectious agents in the region in northern Macedonia, Montenegro and elsewhere.

Radio Free Europe: How can the region fight but Western allies too?

Wesley Clark: We have our values in the West. We do not engage in the same kind of fraud as Moscow or the purchase of people. We go through democratic processes. We see people's interests. They know what America represents and they choose not to be with America.

For me, it makes no sense that some political parties in Eastern Europe, which have suffered for 40 years or more under Soviet domination, want to join Russia instead of the European Union. Why? What does Russia offer them besides money to politicians? You offer them a big investment? No. New technology? No. Sharing in a large organization that would advance the welfare of the people? No. None of them. Simply, a game that is played mercilessly by Russian imperial ambition.

Stability in Bosnia “has effect verse” in Kosovo and wider

Radio Free Europe: Do you think the danger exists of another conflict in Kosovo?

Wesley Clark: I think there's danger of violence. Years ago, we saw coup efforts in Montenegro. Lately, we have seen disputes at the border between Serbia and Kosovo, in which [Serbia's president, Aleksandar] Vuccik has denied attending. But someone in Serbia has participated because the movement of military forces has been organised and ordered.

So when you look at how things work in this part of the world, you realize there's a hide hand behind most of this. And that hand comes from Moscow.

Radio Free Europe: Do you think peace can be achieved with the current political leadership in Serbia?

Wesley Clark: That depends on what you understand peacefully. There is currently no conflict. It can be said to be a cold peace.

But until Moscow withdraws its imperialistic ambitions from the region, you will have no stability and chances for people to agree and move on.

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Radio Free Europe: Kosovo has recently taken steps that have been criticised by Western allies such as the ban on the use of the Serbian dinar. Has Kosovo jeopardised relations with the West, especially the US?

Wesley Clark: I think countries should do what is in their interest. Kosovo is a very small and fragile country. I think that continuing to address Serbia's extraterritoriality in the north of Ibri is extremely harmful to the future of the people in Kosovo. So [Kosovo leaders] have been determined and understood.

Look, Ukraine can't do everything Americans want because America's interests are different from Ukraine's interests. It's the same in Israel. It's the same thing everywhere. Each country must pursue its own interest first, and then gather the allies around it.

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Radio Free Europe: The association of Serb majority municipalities is another hot spot. The West insists on its establishment, Kosovo refuses. Do you think that association is a threat to Kosovo?

Wesley Clark: I never get involved in domestic policy... because when you're not a citizen, you don't live there, you shouldn't give comments.

What we do know historically is that Serb communities have been linked to the Orthodox Church, have used that church as a bastion and as a central point for rebellion, oppression or aggression.

I think it's better for all in the region if we don't postpone it before Association, but instead we work to make these two [Kosovo and Serbia's] governments normalise diplomatic relations.

There's always a mix of ethnic groups. But the best way for peace is to respect national boundaries.