NATO chief assures Western Balkans of alliance support and urges flexibility in Kosovo, Serbia talks
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/03/2025 (212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — In his first trip to the once-volatile Western Balkans, NATO’s secretary general Tuesday underscored the alliance’s “steadfast commitment” to its security and urged Kosovo and Serbia to be flexible in their normalization talks.
Mark Rutte came to Kosovo after his first stop in Bosnia a day earlier, which he reassured of the military alliance’s “unwavering” support for its territorial integrity after a series of Bosnian Serb separatist moves raised tensions nearly 30 years after the end of a bloody war.
“A secure Western Balkans region means more security across the whole Euro-Atlantic area,” said Rutte. He added: “We must be clear eyed on what lies ahead. Decades of hard-won peace must not be jeopardized.“
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a decade since the end of the 1998-1999 war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists that pushed Serbian forces out following a 78-day NATO air campaign.
Serbia doesn’t recognize Kosovo’s independence.
NATO leads the Kosovo Force, or KFOR, a peacekeeping mission of some 4,700 troops from 29 countries. It has increased its presence in Kosovo after tensions in the last two years.
“KFOR is fully postured to respond to any relevant security developments,” said Rutte.
The normalization talks with Serbia are “the only way to solve pending issues and secure a stable future,” according to the alliance’s head.
The European Union-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia normalization talks, which started in 2011, have yielded little result and they remain stalled.
Both the EU and the United States have been urging both sides to implement agreements reached two years ago that include a commitment by Kosovo to establish an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities. Serbia was also expected to deliver on the de facto recognition of Kosovo.
Brussels has made it clear that normalization of their ties is indispensable for their integration into the bloc.
“To move this dialogue forward, both sides must show flexibility, make the necessary compromises, and focus on the long term gains,” said Rutte.
“Normalization brings greater stability, more investment opportunities, and also lasting security across the whole region for the benefit of all.”
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Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.