Osmani: Partnership cannot be granted to those who commit aggression against neighbors

At the KFOR change of command ceremony, President Vjosa Osmani gave a message to the international community about their behavior in relation to Serbia. She said on Friday that partnership cannot be offered to those who commit aggression against their neighbors. And the current KFOR commander, Enrico Barduani, stated that there are still concerns about the sustainability of security in Kosovo.

President Vjosa Osmani called on Friday for international determination against those who aim to destabilize Kosovo and the region. 

In front of multinational troops, at the KFOR change of command ceremony, she said that there are still attempts to undo everything that has been achieved in Kosovo and to return the country to the past.

"For them, our response must be determined. Appeasing dictators and autocrats cannot be the answer, as history has proven time and again. Partnership cannot be given to those who commit aggression against their neighbors. Only through steadfastness and clarity can we protect the peace, stability and future that we all seek," she said.

President Osmani made similar calls, but mainly directed at the European Union (EU), a day earlier in Denmark, where she participated in the summit of the European Political Community. From Copenhagen, she said that Serbia, as a satellite of Russia in the Western Balkans, should not be pampered by the EU and that Serbia and Russia pose a threat to Kosovo. 

"For the European Union, I want to say that history shows that petting dictators and autocrats never leads to lasting peace. Unfortunately, petting dictators has historically led to encouraging them to use more violence, so our call is to be very careful about how Russia's satellite in our region is treated and not to allow them to continue the violence," Osmani said on Thursday.

And on Friday, the current KFOR commander, Enrico Barduani, stated that there are still concerns regarding the stability of security in Kosovo, due to unresolved relations with Serbia. 

"There are still concerns about the sustainability of security, due to several unresolved issues, and this is why the role of KFOR still remains critical, and why it is essential that KFOR be seen as an integral part of the ongoing engagement of the international community," Barduani said.

The Italian commander, who on Friday handed over the leadership of KFOR to Turkish Major General Ozkan Ulutas, said that Kosovo and Serbia must implement existing agreements and make compromises.

"If we look at the international security scenario today, I am convinced that now, more than ever, we need political leadership to pursue long-term solutions to the many unresolved issues that still affect Kosovo and the region," he stressed.

And, the commander who has returned to duty as leader of KFOR, Ozkan Ulutas, has indicated what his priority will be. 

"To ensure that the KFOR mission will maintain a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo, as well as guarantee freedom of movement for the international community," he declared.

At this NATO mission ceremony, President Osmani reiterated that Kosovo's aspiration is membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, which she said she has always aligned herself with. 

"At a time when threats to peace are increasing, the Alliance is strongest when it stands by partners who have truly proven their commitment. Kosovo has done this repeatedly – ​​through our resilience, our reforms and the determination of our people," said Osmani.

Ulutas led the NATO mission in Kosovo a year ago, before handing over leadership to the current KFOR commander, Italian Enrico Barduani.