The future of Kosovo, threatened by the overpowering delirious in Pristina

2023-06-23 16:00:00, Opinione Piro Ahmetaj

Due to the high duties and functions that I have exercised, as well as in the capacity of National, Regional & NATO Security Expert, for the last 26 years, I have followed with increased attention and additional responsibility the Security situation in Kosovo.

At the same time, I have had the privilege, of course, and the duty to present and defend strategic assessments and recommendations for stability as well as Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic challenges in NATO and the highest security forums, in conferences, panels and thousands of published pages. in the capitals of the region, including Belgrade; at the Atlantic Council and the Washington War Institute; with security experts/colleagues in Brussels, Marshall Headquarters, Germany, London, Paris, NATO College Rome, etc., and in almost 30 NATO countries.

On this occasion, but because of the truth, I wanted to mention that the "only criticism" (which I certainly have in honor), in 36 years of military career, was during the function of the National Representative in the NATO Supreme Command, when from the highest authorities of the Alliance, "attention was drawn to me to keep the seat", because: "I did not represent Kosovo, but only RS"!

In the inability to give a dedicated answer to each of the television studios, newspapers and portals interested, below I am presenting a summary on respectively the two essential issues that dominate the strategic, political, official and public debate in Pristina, Tirana, the Region, Brussels, Washington , etc.:

FIRST, on the escalation of the security situation after the brutal arrest of 3 KSF Policemen as well as the delusional irresponsibility of official Pristina:

First of all, regarding the reckless decisions and unconsulted activities of Official Pristina, I cannot but express not only concern but also strategic revolt for the delusional lack of "a sense of national gratitude" as well as "state obligations" to consult in advance with " liberators/USA" the "vital necessity" that Kosovo has for strengthening cooperation with the USA.

Seen like this, he expresses regret, not to say disgust, not only for: "the recycling of Marxist stubbornness, populist beliefs and folkloric sovereignty by the Government of Pristina, but also towards bunkered politicians; omniscient commentators in Pristina & Tirana; including the 10 egocentric self-determinationists who protested the legitimate right of the Government of another sovereign State (Official Tirana) to exercise its responsibilities in "unconditional support to Kosovo", moreover the other half of the Nation?

Undoubtedly honoring the fallen and the sacrifices over the centuries, after 24 years I strongly believe that in the nationwide and nationwide and Institutional consciousness, it has been inventoried and will remain eternally clear as crystal, that: "liberation from the Serbian occupation on June 12, 1999 it was not achieved either by wars or by the resistance of the people of Kosovo".

For this, it is enough to bring to the national memory that the USA/NATO/UK engaged for the first time in a war "outside of Article 5". And only thanks to this war, Milosevic knelt, on June 9, 1999, signed in Kumanovo the agreement of capitulation as well as the withdrawal of the occupying forces (military & police) to the borders defined by resolution 1244, but consecrated in the Official Flag of Kosovo , by His Holiness Ibrahim Rugova himself.

Because of the truth, we must bring to our attention that in Kumanovo, the KLA was neither a writing party nor an observer, although its merger and transformation into the Kosovo Security Forces (FSK) was decided there, while the territorial security of Kosovo , was assigned to KFOR, with over 37 thousand infantry forces from 36 countries.

In summary, to put it more clearly, neither the Marxist lectures on sovereignty nor the patriotic verses about sovereign rights will ever be able to obscure the defining role of the "real liberators" [US/NATO/UK] for the liberation of Kosovo from Serbian occupation. nor the critical weight that the USA/NATO have been carrying for 24 years for the stability and Euro-Atlantic future of the Republic of Kosovo.

Seen from this point of view, the date of the liberation of Kosovo from the Serbian invaders (June 12, 1999), deserves to be engraved forever as the date of National gratitude to the USA as well as the day of thanks to 36 countries and over 500 thousand KFOR soldiers/missionaries for the critical weight they have held for peace and security over the past 24 years.

SECONDLY, How are the brutal arrest of 3 KSF policemen intertwined with the War in Ukraine, and W/Why/How is Official Belgrade being used for Russia's geopolitical interests in the Western Balkans?

During the last 25 years, I have also had the privilege and responsibility of sharing "the geostrategic concerns about the arming to the teeth and the Kremlin's misuse of Belgrade" with the drafter of the "Peace Plan", Ahtisaar; with The Honorable Senator John McCain; NATO Supreme Commanders/4-Star Generals-USA (Clark, Jones, Cradook, Stavridis, Breedlove, Mattis, Petraus); as well as the highest authorities of Pristina and Official Tirana. Also on this issue, I have published dozens of evaluations in Tirana, Pristina, the Region, Washington, Brussels, and not only.

Also, in the last 10 years I have publicly addressed (in Albanian, English, Serbian), some simple questions to Mr. Vu?i? and His Generals, which I am quoting: "Why do you spend more than €1 billion per year and why is Serbia armed to the teeth, (mostly from Russia) with Tanks, with 18 Mig-29, Mi-35 combat helicopters, Pantsir-S missiles and FK-3 missiles (Chinese), etc. Why 3/4 of the structures and power has deployed offensive military forces on the state borders of Kosovo? From which country or Alliance is the territorial integrity of Serbia (?), as well as the integrity of which sovereign country, apart from Kosovo, threatened by Serbia?

I am happy that despite the fact that the above-mentioned questions still do not have answers from Mr. Vucic, [unfortunately not only from Him], these "concerns have been heard/read" all the way to the Office of the late Senator, John McCain. As a result, in 2016 an inspection visit was carried out and Belgrade was officially asked by the US Senate to "freeze" the weapons programs (Mig/29 & Raketa) that threaten not only the territorial integrity of Kosovo, but also the balance of power air as well as US/NATO geopolitical interests in the region.

However, I have to repeat it clearly, including for the folklore sovereignists of Pristina: "as long as there is a US/NATO presence on the ground, military aggression against the territorial integrity of Kosovo (which at the same time is under the responsibility of KFOR), apart from the suicidal adventure of Serbia, it remains a completely impossible mission".

Having said this, there is no doubt that historically, 24 years after the liberation of Kosovo or the last 18 months of the war in Ukraine: "the approach, attitudes and actions of Official Belgrade are/remain intertwined and synchronized with the geopolitical interests of Russia in Region".

Considering this, thankfully, along with the loss of the war in Ukraine, Putinist Russia has failed miserably to ignite a new front, inspiring criminal groups, the agenda of corrupt politicians, Dodik-type extremists, to keep the anti-Western spirit burning. or discretizing the official Belgrade that threatens "up to military aggression under the inspection of the Russian Ambassador to Serbia!!" not only the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo, but also the increased presence of NATO/KFOR.

ADDITIONALLY, in the capacity of SK, Region and NATO Expert, I am presenting respectively five strategic recommendations:

1. Official Prishtina and Belgrade (not only in this case) will have to show restraint by giving time and trust to the KFOR investigation, which according to the Kumanova Agreement (06/1999), that is, for 24 years, continues to remains the responsible structure of Kosovo's borders. To put it more clearly, while the parties (Serbian and Kosovar) still cannot resolve the cross-border disputes, the UN/NATO/EU remain on the ground as an international arbiter/guarantor.

2. Official Belgrade should never advocate for criminal groups and nationalist radicals in the north; not to apply terrorist state approaches to cross-border activities (consistent with Kim Jong's behavior towards southern neighbors). While Mr. Vu?i?, the former/Minister of Milosevic and the spoiled not only of Moscow, do not add fuel to the fire with cynical comments (with longs and mushrooms) but immediately release the 3 brutally handcuffed policemen and return to the "unconditional" dialogue with Kosovo.

3. Official Prishtina, for no reason, without consulting the strategic allies (USA/NATO), will never have to undertake (or even think about), decision-making and activities with strategic impacts, which undermine the foundations of trust from/with the "Liberators" /USA, which for 24 years still carry critical weight for the security and Euro-Atlantic future of Kosovo". While the generation that grew up in freedom and the open-minded factors of Pristina, I would brotherly advise them that: "the stupidity of Belgrade's military threats to the territorial integrity of Kosovo as well as to the presence of the USA/NATO", they also should not consider it only as a circumstance favorable but a state challenge to build peace between two sovereign countries, (beyond the presence of NATO which will certainly not be eternal...) where citizens regardless of ethnic, religious and political affiliations are guaranteed as equal before the law, as well as factorization of modern Kosovo, from consumer to contributor for peace, stability and integration in NATO & EU.

4. At the same time, I would advise the factors of official Tirana and Pristina, including and beyond this case: "non-escalated and cacophonous reactions to Balkan protagonism", I appreciate as a national emergency, the establishment of a "Group of Sages/ open-mouthed", who kneel before the bloody history and national interests by preparing a long-term Patforma (2050): "Two sovereign States, a single Nation". On the other hand, the strategic partners (USA/NATO) must be guaranteed that this "delayed platform" not only does not threaten but will only contribute as a rational balance for long-term peace between the countries of the region.

5. Actors and strategists/colleagues in Washington and Brussels, London, etc. I would suggest that they pre-condition the perspective of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo with a Matrix of Reciprocal Trust Measures, through which Belgrade and Pristina Officially "impose and are monitored by the USA/NATO/EU" that: they will maintain the balance of military power (with the capacity (Mig/29, Missiles, Tanks, etc.) to the level that they do not mutually threaten the territorial integrity and will not establish installations and activities military (according to NATO standards = 25 km air & 5 land), on the state borders between the two countries.

However, despite the recycling of the climate/roots of the conflict, after 24 years I believe even more strongly that peace remains the only option and mission, so that security is consumed beyond the bloody history, in the interest of the security of life, property, prosperity of citizens of Kosovo and Serbia as well as the Euro-Atlantic perspective for the 6 countries of the Western Balkans.

* Expert for SK, the Region and NATO,

Vice President of the Atlantic Council;

Member of the "Israel House" Board, as well as

former Advisor to the President of RSh & Deputy Prime Minister,

National Military Representative in NATO.