Shea: Disappointing that Serbia is not co-operating on Banjska case

On one anniversary of the attack on Banjska, former spokeswoman NATO during the Kosovo war, Jamie Shea, has expressed his disappointment with the Serbian state, which has taken no action against those involved in this case. According to him, Serbia will use the case as a pretext to stall procedures. Shea says northern Kosovo needs a period of calm and implementation of agreements reached in Brussels and Ohrid.

Shea, ex-sister of NATO during the war in Kosovo said that failure to hand over those involved in the Banjska case would be clearly used by Serbia as an excuse to stall procedures.

The Shea for RTK said international pressure should be maintained on Belgrade to fully co-operate in Banjska's investigation and to dismantle training and equipment facilities. According to him, evidence now produced by the work of Kosovo police and judiciary provides grounds on which more pressure can be exercised on Serbia.

According to him, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue should resume soon. “So I expect EU measures against Kosovo to be removed later this autumn, provided there is a period of calm in the north and for Pristina to make efforts to reintegration Serbs to police, judiciary and local administration. Vuciq has called for this to happen and will be a test for him to work constructively to help implement it”, the former senior official said. NATO. For northern Kosovo, Shea said there is a need for a period of calm to create 4 municipal authorities and multiethnic police, judiciary and public administration, and must be worked on implementing many normalisation steps as agreed on between Belgrade and Pristina in Ohrid last year.

For US elections and the possibility that they affect Kosovo, She does not believe the US will be less engaged, regardless of who wins in the US.

He has also talked about buying the planes Serbia has purchased from France. According to him, it is better for Serbia to buy French and European military equipment than Russian or Chinese weapons.

Asked how Russia through its ally Serbia aims to destabilise the region and minimize its role in the Balkans, Shea said the best way to minimise Moscow's malicious influence is to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

It has been a year since the terrorist attack in northern Kosovo and there are still no measures and penalties against Serbia, how do you assess that?

Shea: It is disappointing that Serbia has not yet taken action against those involved in last year's Banjska attack. The Serbian government has requested information and evidence from Pristina, which has so far not been handed over. So this will be clearly used by Serbia as an excuse to procrastinate procedures. On the other hand last week, the judiciary in Pristina published an indictment against 45 persons involved in the attack on Banjska. These charges are based on a year of investigation and evidence collection, so this material should be used by Belgrade to arrest individuals in question and also by other countries to place these individuals in a list of arrest warrants for stopping travel and arrest. International pressure must be maintained on Belgrade to co-operate fully in Banjska's investigation and to dismantle the training and equipment facilities behind it.

Serbia is not handing over those who ordered and participated in the terrorist attack on Banjska in September 2023?

Shea: But evidence now produced by the work of Kosovo police and judiciary provides a solid basis on which more pressure can be exerted on Serbia.

What is your view of recent developments in northern Kosovo?

Shea: We need a period of calm to create four municipal authorities and multiethnic police, judiciary and public administration. We do not need unilateral and uncoordinated steps by either side, but implementation of many normalisation steps agreed on between Belgrade and Pristina on Lake Ohrid last year. Both sides must maintain their commitments. Solving the issue of license plates shows that cooperation is possible with good communication and tactful diplomacy. Close co-ordination between Kosovo's government and Kosovo's KFOR and Western partners is essential to ensuring that we proceed gradually, step by step to boost the trust of the Serb community in the north and to fight disinformation and intervention.

Even though Kosovo, as a state to which Serbia committed aggression, the European Union is not removing the measures previously imposed, is it time for them to leave?

Shea: Prime Minister Kurti is in Brussels this week, which can certainly lobby for EU measures to be removed. He has followed the EU's advice not to reopen the Mitrovica bridge for traffic. But the new EU leadership has not yet taken office after the EU Parliament elections last June. The new commission was only appointed today. Belgrade-Pristina dialogue must resume soon. So I expect that EU measures against Kosovo will be removed later this autumn, provided there is a period of calm in the north and that Pristina will make efforts to reintegration Serbs to police, judiciary and local administration. Vuciq has called for this to happen and will be a test for him to work constructively to help implement it.

Serbia has made arrangements to purchase aircraft from France, how dangerous is Serbia's arming for the region?

Shea: It is better for Serbia to buy French (and European) military equipment than Russian or Chinese weapons. At least this agreement will help in Belgrade's most strategic connection with the West, which should be the goal for overall peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Serbia has also signed an agreement with Germany on lithium supplies. We should hope that this marks a Vuciqi decision to deal with Serbia's European neighbours and more vigorously pursue his country's EU integration.

Russia through its ally Serbia aims to destabilise the region, how to minimize Russia's role in the Balkans?

Shea: The best way to minimize Moscow's malicious influence is to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and the strong response to Milorad Dodik's efforts in Bosnia to undermine the constitution and the Bosnian state. Russia thrives in disagreements and tensions that its propaganda can exploit, playing one side against the other. Thus, resolving disputes and providing all countries in the region with a clear European and transatlantic perspective is the best way to reduce Moscow's capacity to harm us. We can also help countries in the region to be more flexible about cyberattacks, dezination campaigns, and sabotages or aggressive intelligence operations.

Now the US elections are approaching, how much can impact the Balkan region, but also developments in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue?

Shea: The previous Trump administration has also worked to improve relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Trump even hosted a summit at the White House and appointed a special envoy to the region. Trump boasts his ability to act as peacemakers. So if he wins in the US in November, I expect him to remain committed to Kosovo. If Harris wins, I expect the support given by the Biden administration for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and for supporting Kosovo's security and the eventual transatlantic integration will continue. So, in general, I don't think the United States will be less engaged.