NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the Western military alliance is in contact with Kosovo and Serbia to ensure that there is no destabilization in Kosovo during the parliamentary elections.
Rutte has named the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the relations between Kosovo and Serbia as key issues in the Western Balkan region.
He made these statements on January 13 during a debate that took place in the Committee for Foreign Policy and Defense in the European Parliament in Brussels.
“Of course, we have some concerns there, especially about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the relations between Serbia and Kosovo”, said the head of NATO.
He added that the alliance will not allow there to be any security vacuum, neither in Bosnia and Herzegovina, nor anywhere else in the Western Balkan region.
“However, we are in contact with Kosovo, but also with Serbia, to ensure that the elections that will take place later in Kosovo in February do not lead to destabilization. This is key. In the Western Balkans region we really need to remain committed to the neighborhood because it is a key neighborhood for us,” said Rutte.
The Secretary General of NATO said that in these dangerous times it is imperative that the European Union and NATO strengthen cooperation.
According to him, Russia is trying to destabilize the member countries of the alliance and the European bloc.
“We are deeply concerned about security in Europe. We are not at war, but we are not at peace either,” he said, asking for increased investments in security and defense by member countries.
According to the previous plan, all member countries of the alliance must invest in defense at least 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Although the agreement on this was made more than ten years ago, this goal has not yet been achieved by all member countries, despite the fact that since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, defense investments have increased.
“Two-thirds of NATO member countries now spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense. But this is not nearly enough. For a proper defense, much more is needed”, the head of NATO emphasized.
