The Austrian MEP, Lukas Mandl, has accused the leadership in Serbia of behaving aggressively in the Western Balkan region, not accepting the past. Mandl emphasized that Serbia can be the engine of the economy in the region and contribute to the entire region, but the institutional leadership there is not doing such a thing.
Mandl, during his speech at the conference of the Universal Peace Federation, where "Peace, stability and demographic transition in the Western Balkans" is being discussed, said that the progress of the region is made only through cooperation and not conflict.
"Serbia can be like Germany in the Western Balkans, as an engine of the economy. Serbia can contribute to the progress of the people of its country and then of the region. Many people in Serbia do this but the leadership of Serbia is not doing it such a thing. They are behaving aggressively, not accepting the past," he said.
He considered it necessary to carry out reforms in the six countries of the Western Balkans as a prerequisite for strategic investments and European integration.
"(In the region) Cooperation more than confrontation, cooperation more than conflict. This should be the main goal in the Western Balkans... Investments are necessary, the less bureaucracy the more opportunities and the rule of law. I know that the possibilities will be greater for investments to be made in Kosovo and the region. The education and health system are conditions for proper development. Reforms are necessary for all the Western Balkans states," he said.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti also spoke at this conference. He said that Kosovo is growing as a leader of progress and economic and democratic development in the region and with a promising trajectory for the present and the future.
The former president of Albania, Alfred Moisiu, who was also present, mentioned the September 24 attack in Banjska where Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed. He emphasized that this attack was organized directly from Belgrade.