Italian Undersecretary of Defense: Kosovo security condition European security

The Western Balkans is now one of the most sensitive areas in Europe. An interethnic powder barrel that has never calmed down, the region remains a hearth of possible instability. Italy is at the forefront of the KFOR mission in Kosovo, contributing to the stability and security of the region through the action of the Armed Forces and the Karabiniers.

The Italian magazine “Airpress (Formiche)” spoke on the matter with Isabel Rautin, Undersecretary of State for Protection, to explore Italy's political and operational importance of engagement in Kosovo, regional dynamics and the role of military diplomacy in building a strong and lasting peace.

The international interest in the Western Balkans is growing because the stability of the region falls above global; and the path of Euro-Atlantic integration is exposed to danger due to ethnic tensions in northern Kosovo and critical issues in relations between Serbia and Kosovo. There are many non-European actors interested in the West Balkans Framework; The Russian Federation, for example, maintains a certain capacity for influence in the region, even through historical, cultural and religious ties; China uses its own financial leverage and increases activities in the area to increase its area area of influence”, Rauti has said in this interview, which recently visited Kosovo to look closely at the situation on the ground.

The defence ministry's double in Italy said that from a geopolitical perspective, the European integration of the Western Balkans represents a strategic investment in Europe's security.

According to her, the region is essential to European balance; “, as repeated repeatedly by the Government, Italy continues to be committed to promoting the path of integration, which we prefer to define as Europe's reunitation”.

“We are convinced, in fact, that Kosovo's security conditions European security and we are equally aware that leaving a vacuum in the Balkans for a long time could lead to further elements of instability”, is expressed Isabel Rautin, Undersecretary of State for Protection.

She also recalled Prime Minister Giorgia Melon's statement at the European Political Community Summit (EPC) held last May in Tirana, which said that “a new Europe is not possible without the Western Balkans and peoples and their identities”.

Therefore, Italy is committed to a strategic approach that leads to providing a European integration perspective for the Western Balkans. But it is just as clear that a stable form of normalisation and long-term deescalisation is needed, with an open dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Europe will never really be united and reunited until the Western Balkans have entered the institutional family of the European Union. A long and difficult road, but an investment for the future”, Raut stressed.

For her recent visit to Kosovo, the Italian contingent engaged in the KFOR mission, Rauti said peacekeepers have been in operation for 26 years, and that Italy with its contingents has been present since the beginning and is among the main contributors of 33 participating countries.

Besides, we've maintained command 14 times. We are in Kosovo based on Resolution No. 1244/1999 of the UN Security Council and the men and women of our Armed Forces work to contribute to the stability of the region and its security, to promote social cohesion and peaceful co-existence among local communities”, Rauti said.

The State Undersecretary for Defence added that there are nine countries operating in Italy's Italian-led Regional Command and stressed that Italian soldiers conduct kinetic activities on the ground and co-operate with local institutions and authorities in support of the population, also with Civil-Ushtak Co-operation projects through CIMC cells.

It stated that the commitment of the Western Regional Command aims to ensure freedom of movement of local communities and security, in particular along the border between Kosovo and Serbia, the so-called “Administrative Border Line (ABL)”.

Among other things, it stresses that Italy is in Kosovo to keep open the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, which is led by the European Union, “but that it can and should be conducted only in stable security conditions”.

KFOR's “Role, under NATO's mandate, is also to contain ethnic tensions and keep them within a peaceful perimeter, preventing them from degenerating conflict. The mission's influence is concrete, it operates on the stability of the territory and on possible dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia; the security of this geostrategic framework contributes to that global”, she said.

Furthermore, the State Undersecretary for Defence said Karabiniers make a valuable contribution to KFOR.

“Multinational Specialised Unit Regiment (MSU) testifies to the continued engagement of Karabiniers in Mitrovica, north of Kosovo, an area marked by a large presence of ethnic Serbs and historical interethnic tensions. The 24/7 presence of Italian Karabiniers helps create the necessary security situations for free movement and peaceful co-existence of ethnic Albanian and Serbian groups”.

“carabiniers are also present in Kosovo in the European Union's largest civilian mission, E ULEX, which focuses on the judicial sector with the aim of preventing political interference and promoting compliance with international human rights standards. Karabiniers serving in this mission play a crucial role in supporting democracy, security, rule of law and reconciliation among different communities”, Rauti said.

In the end, she said Italy would continue its commitment to KFOR, as this, according to her, is also a strategic necessity.

A possible conflict in the area would undo the efforts made and the results achieved, and would bring a further and serious element of widespread instability in the global” scenario, State Undersecretary for Protection Isabel Rauti concluded./Periscopi/