At a time of high tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, former senior NATO official Jamie Shea calls on both sides to drop inflammatory rhetoric and focus on finding a solution to freedom of movement.
Shea, the former deputy assistant secretary general of NATO, instructs Belgrade that the NATO mission, KFOR, which cooperates with the Kosovo Police, is responsible for security in Kosovo.
"I think that NATO should show Belgrade that it is fully capable of continuing its mandate, which is to maintain security, including the Serbs, and that Belgrade has no role in Kosovo in this regard," he said. he commenting on the statement of the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, that if NATO does not do its job, Belgrade will intervene "to protect" the Serbs in Kosovo.
Shea expresses hope that there will be no escalation of the situation. "We are dealing with a diplomatic war, not a military war," he told Radio Free Europe.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia rose earlier this month when Pristina said it would force Serbs living in the north - who are supported by Belgrade and do not recognize Kosovo's institutions - to start using issued car plates. in Prishtina.
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Shea is convinced that Serbia's request for the return of the army to Kosovo will be rejected
As a sign of dissatisfaction, some Serbs in the north have erected barricades on the road and the Government of Kosovo, with the suggestion of the international community, has postponed the implementation of the decision to September 1.
Shea said that KFOR, knowing the deadline of September 1, "is well prepared".
"I hope, especially after the meeting in Brussels on August 18, organized by the EU, that the parties [Kosovo and Serbia] give up their inflammatory rhetoric. I heard [Serbian President] Aleksandar Vucic say that Kosovars want the Serbian population to leave Kosovo. This is total nonsense. We all know. So, give up this rhetoric, which heats up the situation", he said for REL.
Shea has said that the situation is not completely stable and according to him, NATO should have reserve troops that can be brought to Kosovo in case of crisis.
"KFOR [NATO's peacekeeping mission] is still in Kosovo. NATO has left Afghanistan - although I know it's a different story. NATO has left Bosnia, which was handed over to the EU, many years ago. But NATO is still in Kosovo. Of course, there are no longer 40.000 troops, there are [over] 3.700. But the fact that they are there shows that the situation has not been completely stabilized and normalized yet. NATO in Brussels should have reserve troops that can be quickly sent to Kosovo in case of crisis. There should be an evacuation plan, as well."
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Former NATO Spokesperson: Kosovo-Albania-Croatia Cooperation Does Not Threaten Serbia
Regarding a Kosovo-Serbia agreement, Shea has said that there is no EU membership for Serbia without recognizing Kosovo.
"Serbia cannot really be part of the European Union until it recognizes Kosovo... [The solution] must also condition aid to Kosovo on its willingness to move forward."
