Kosovo\u2019s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asserted that Russia is actively seeking to create a crisis \u201cin the backyard of the European Union\u201d with the aim of diverting attention away from NATO.<\/p>\n
In a Facebook post, Kurti expressed growing concern over the \u201cthreat posed by Russia and Serbia to regional stability, peace, and security\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kurti\u2019s comments about Russia\u2019s alleged intention to provoke a new crisis come shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow is attempting to instigate a conflict in the Western Balkans.<\/p>\n
\u201cPay attention to the Balkans. Believe me, we are receiving information. Russia has a long-term plan. [First, we had] the Middle East \u2013 the second distraction will be the Balkans,\u201d Zelensky stated on November 15.<\/p>\n
These concerns raised by Zelensky have found support within the EU, while the U.S. State Department has informed Radio Free Europe that Washington is collaborating with Western Balkan states and European partners to promote governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms. This joint effort aims \u201cto diminish the potential for Russian influence and foster long-term peace, stability, and prosperity in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n
Conversely, according to Kurti, Serbia\u2019s objective is to fulfill territorial ambitions toward its neighboring countries. He referenced the group of Serbs responsible for the attack on Kosovo Police officers on September 24 in Banjska, Zvecan, resulting in the tragic death of a police officer.<\/p>\n
Milan Radoji\u010di\u0107, the former deputy leader of the Serb List, the largest Serbian party in Kosovo supported by Belgrade, has assumed responsibility for this attack.<\/p>\n
Although Kosovo has accused Serbia of supporting the assault, Belgrade has vehemently denied any involvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven after international pressure, Serbia has not withdrawn all troops and artillery from the vicinity of Kosovo\u2019s territory. It continues to threaten the security of the Republic of Kosovo with the operational bases of the Serbian Armed Forces along our border. Furthermore, Serbia has deployed anti-aircraft systems near the border with Kosovo,\u201d Kurti stated, albeit without providing concrete evidence for these claims.<\/p>\n
Kurti has called for sanctions against Serbia in response to the Banjska attack. He asserted that on November 10 in Ra\u0161ka, Serbia, Radoji\u010di\u0107 led a meeting with numerous Serbian politicians and officials from parallel Serbian municipalities. According to Kurti, the head of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government, Petar Petkovi\u0107, and representatives of the Serb List also attended the meeting.<\/p>\n
Kurti claimed that the meeting sought mobilization for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in the upcoming Serbian parliamentary elections on December 17.<\/p>\n
However, the Serb List has refuted the assertion that such a meeting took place in Ra\u0161ka. The newly appointed leader of the party, Zlatan Elek, told the Kossev portal in North Mitrovica that he is \u201chearing about this for the first time\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t understand what connection Radoji\u010di\u0107 has with the Serb List,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kosovo\u2019s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asserted that Russia is actively seeking to create a crisis \u201cin the backyard of the European Union\u201d with the aim of diverting attention away from NATO. In a Facebook post, Kurti expressed growing concern over the \u201cthreat posed by Russia and Serbia to regional stability, peace, and security\u201d. Kurti\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":62896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[4419,995,308,300,1098,243,151,383,2203,4457,284,5242,2268,285,787,326,2506],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n