Kearns: The West did not learn from Russia, Serbia must be shown the red lines

The voice of Kosovo in the Parliament of Great Britain, Alicia Kearns, has directed criticism towards the European Union, including the United States of America and Great Britain, which are not taking punitive measures against Serbia after the September 24 attack in Banjska. In an interview for TIME, Kearns requested greater pressure on Serbia from the international factor for the extradition of Milan Radoicic to Kosovo. The British lawmaker has raised concerns that official Belgrade is potentially continuing to support Serbian groups in Kosovo. Kearns, who also heads the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament, said that with the behavior towards Serbia, the West is showing that it has not learned from Russia's aggression.

KOHA: Finally, you, together with 13 heads of committees for foreign affairs of European countries, have asked Borrell and Lajçak to lift the measures against Kosovo. Do you expect these measures to be lifted soon?

Kearns: I can only hope that they will listen to the voices of the 13 chairmen of parliamentary committees across Europe. The truth is that this is the second letter I have written. The first was at the beginning of the year, which over 17 politicians across Europe have signed, calling for change. This is the only issue, apart from that of Ukraine, that we have seen so many MPs united in unity. We need to see change and I hope they will listen to us.

KOHA: You have also requested the extradition of Milan Radoicic to Kosovo and a full investigation of the terrorist attack team. Do you expect Serbia to cooperate in this area? And you expect satisfaction in the fulfillment of Serbia?

Kearns: Sadly, I think it is extremely unlikely that Vucic will do the right thing and extradite him (Radoicic). However, this is also the reason why the European Union, Great Britain and the United States must be very clear with Vučić that there will be consequences if we do not see him extradited. We know that Kosovo's courts are legitimate, we know that Kosovo has a good police system. We need to see justice. The family of the policeman who was killed needs to see justice, but I have no faith that Serbia will fulfill its obligations.

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KOHA: You have repeatedly talked about the weapons that are being brought to the north of Kosovo from Serbia and are they being stored in churches, based on the information you have, is this smuggling still continuing?

Kearns: I think that, unfortunately, it is likely that there are still many organized crime groups operating in the north of Kosovo. Recently, we have seen that the Government of Kosovo has discovered larger quantities of weapons, but also cannabis factories working in the north. So, I think that unfortunately there are still organized crime groups. I am pleased that Great Britain has deployed additional forces within KFOR and that their priority is border protection, that is, stopping these organized crime groups from entering and around the border. I think there are questions that need to be answered by the international community, including KFOR, who, when I raised the issue at the beginning of the year that illegal arms smuggling is happening in northern Kosovo, told me that there is no evidence of this . I think it's about time they set the record straight and admit they had intelligence that this was happening. And also whatever investigation is being done into what happened earlier this year should be made public.

KOHA: You have met the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and other institutional leaders. Osmani stated a few days ago that Serbia is planning new attacks in Kosovo by various Serbian groups. Do you expect more attacks?

Kearns: Look, the rhetoric emanating from President Vučić on the eve of the Serbian elections is deeply disturbing. I think there are real concerns that without accountability Vucic and the Serbian state will continue to finance, support and direct terrorists operating inside Kosovo. This is what we have seen with Russia. We, as the West, have failed to contain Putin. We failed when we said there would be consequences that would follow. We failed to stop him. We dare not allow this to happen in Kosovo and the attack in Banjska, the fact that we are still living under its shadow, without accountability, show that the lessons have not been learned.

KOHA: Kosovo has repeatedly demanded measures against Serbia regarding the attack in Banjska. Based on your information, is this being discussed in international decision-making circles?

Kearns: It breaks my heart to say that I don't know about this. But what we have seen so far is a failure, a repeated pattern of failure. Therefore, after the attacks in May we did not see repercussions, after the kidnapping of three policemen from Serbia we did not see repercussions, after Banjska we are still not seeing repercussions. We need to see accountability because without accountability there is no truth, there is no justice and I don't know how countries are able to build and move forward in these peace talks, for which credit should be given to Prime Minister Kurti and the president Osmani who continue to represent their country so well on the world stage and still agree to what the EU has asked for. And it is again Serbia that has said 'no', it is Serbia that has mocked the EU and it is Serbia that has left. We need to see fuses. It means red lines that we impose and it means accountability for those on the ground.

TIME: The members of the Serbian terrorist group that carried out the attacks have been put on the INTERPOL list. Do you expect cooperation from its member states in their arrest, including Serbia?

Kearns: For all the countries that recognize Kosovo, of course I expect that they will adhere to that red list. Sadly, those who don't know it seem unlikely to adhere to it. I would urge, especially EU member states: You must recognize Kosovo now, stop trying to suggest that recognizing Kosovo is in any way related to your national disputes or your international disputes themselves, and focus on what the people of Kosovo deserves it. I think it's a great shame, but no, I don't see that Serbia will ever extradite Milan (Radoicic). Therefore, we need the EU to put pressure on him (Vuçiqi) to do this.

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KOHA: How engaged is Great Britain in the Western Balkans, with particular emphasis on resolving the tense relations between Kosovo and Serbia through dialogue?

Kearns: I think you should be clear, that from my point of view, I will continue to raise my voice for the people of Kosovo. I have heard from David Cameroon, the foreign secretary, that he will appear before my committee on Monday. I can assure you that I will raise the issue of Kosovo and the Western Balkans with him again and I will continue to raise my voice, because I believe in the protection of countries, in self-determination and in the prevention of conflicts. That is exactly what I will continue to do and I will work to ensure that my Government does the same.