Self insists Greece is hindering Kosovo's path to NATO passes its proposal to stop Athens military aid

On 13 May, Self proposed cutting off the first $1.8m for international military training for Greece, due to Athens' refusal to recognise Kosovo's independence.

The proposal, in the form of an amendment to a draft support for Greece, was rejected by Democrat congressers Gregory Meeks and Dina Titus, as well as by Republican head of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast.

Meeks said the bill is aimed at reauthorising a two-party support programme for Greece, while Titus said the Kosovo issue should be addressed separately, rather than linked to Athens' military training programme. Mast also recommended the vote against Selfi amendment.

According to the Committee's announcement, the draft authorisation of international military education and training for Greece H.R. 8019 received its approval on 13 May.

Self argued that Kosovo's non-recognition by Athens is hampering stability in the Western Balkans and Kosovo's path towards NATO membership.

The “until there is strong joint military efforts between the United States and Greece, it remains on the short list of four NATO allies who refuse to recognise Kosovo's sovereignty”, Self said.

These NATO partners join China, Russia and Serbia in refusing to recognise Kosovo's independence a close partner our opponents refuse to recognise because they know that Kosovo is a key pillar for stability in the Western Balkans”, Self added.

Spain, Romania and Slovakia are the other three NATO member states that still do not recognise Kosovo's independence. Because NATO membership requires unanimous reconciliation of all member states, non-recognition by these states remains the main obstacle for Kosovo.

Self warned that the Western Balkan region faces instability and that the Russian influence in the region “is known and is growing”.

Self said the Trump administration has set the standard that American taxpayers' money should be used in the national interest of the United States and that this is a fundamental issue today.

According to him, Kosovo has proven commitment to democratic governance, civilian control over multiethnic security forces and co-existence elements that, he said, constitute convincing arguments for its NATO membership.

While Greece, Romania, Spain and Slovakia refuse to recognise our Balkan ally, there will be no way for Kosovo's membership in NATO”, Self said.

He added that Kosovo's membership in the alliance would serve as counterweight against opponents of the United States and would help prevent another crisis in the Balkans.

“As long as I appreciate Greece's current contribution to [NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo] KFOR, true stability in the Balkans would be strengthened if Kosovo is granted NATO membership”, Self said.

Support for Kosovo's NATO membership and for the continuation of the American presence in KFOR has also expressed the Democrat Congressist Ricchie Torres.

“Congress hopes to see Kosovo's NATO membership, two-party support to maintain the level of forces in KFOR, and a dialogue process that does not reward Serbia for concessions and stubbornness”, said Benny Stanislawski, spokesperson for Congresser Torres, in a proposal for Radio Free Europe correspondent in Washington, Alex Raufoglu.

Self, along with Torres and Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, presented a resolution at the House of Representatives in late April, through which Washington is required to support Kosovo's NATO membership.

Ivana Stradner, from the Foundation for the Protection of Democracy in Washington, told Radio Free Europe that the resolution is the strong “syal political”, because it draws Kosovo closer to NATO in the strategic sense.

According to her, Kosovo's NATO integration would close a strategic “operation in Southeast Europe that opponents seek to exploit”.

The resolution has been welcomed by officials in Kosovo, but has been rejected by Serbia.

Three American congressers have submitted yet another resolution, on April 30th, through which it requires the United States to continue participating in KFOR, NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

This resolution comes after reporting and discussions in recent months on the possibility that Washington will reconsider the presence of American troops in NATO missions, including KFOR.

The Pentagon has earlier told Radio Free Europe that there is no announcement of a change in U.S. deployment.

About 590 American soldiers currently serve in Kosovo under the NATO peacekeeping mission.

Without American capacities, KFOR loses most of its operational force and efficiency. That's clear in the region. The attack on Banjska was a reminder that now is the wrong moment for the US to withdraw from KFOR and the global scene”, Congress spokesman Torres said.

He added that the resolution for KFOR aims to keep Kosovo in Washington's agenda, at a time when political developments can shift American attention to other issues.

Kosovo aims to become part of NATO and the European Union. But, states that do not recognise its independence, declared in 2008, continue to be an obstacle to Pristina's Euro-Atlantic integration.

Kosovo is in the process of transforming the Kosovo Security Force (FSK) into the full army, the process expected to be completed in 2028. The United States has supported this transformation, while NATO has demanded that the KSF maintain its initial tasks, such as crisis response and civil protection.

Kosovo buys military equipment produced in the US and is home to the largest American base in the Balkans, Bondsteel. / REL/