Kosovo in Chaos: Western Failure in the Balkans

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Militant Serb demonstrators and soldiers of the international security force KFOR have been clashing in northern Kosovo for a week now. The KFOR mission also includes Swisscoy soldiers. The latest escalation in the conflict area began on Whit Monday when violent demonstrations broke out in the region. As a result, there were also attacks on KFOR soldiers.

The balance of violence: 30 KFOR soldiers were injured, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, more than 50 Serbs were injured. Even after a week, the situation has not completely stabilized, as Kfor press spokesman Andrea Gallieni confirmed to SonntagsBlick. The demonstrators are calmer than at the beginning of the week, but: “We are always prepared for the weather to escalate.” Galliani says “There hasn’t been such an attack on KFOR soldiers in years!”

The backdrop to the current tensions are elections in northern Kosovo. Early municipal elections were held there in April. Because ethnic Serbs – who make up a large part of the region’s population – largely boycotted the elections, only ethnic Albanians or representatives of smaller minorities were elected with a turnout of less than 3.5 percent. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti installed the mayors last week. He angered the Serbian population. And defied the demands of the EU and the US not to do so with the help of the police.

Hesitant Balkan policy as the cause of escalation

Does the word of the West have no meaning anymore in Kosovo and Serbia? That’s at least partially true, says Konrad Clewing. He is a Balkans expert at the Leibniz Institute for Eastern and Southeastern European Studies. One thing is certain for him: the policy of the Western Balkans in recent years is partly responsible for the latest escalations. This failed. Because: “When it comes to Kosovo, the West lives in the past.” After all, the mandate under which NATO-led troops are stationed in Kosovo dates back to 1999. “Not enough has changed since then,” says Clewing.

This is now noticeable. The fronts have hardened and the conflict zone is constantly boiling. For Clewing there are now two main points to be addressed in the coming years: “The EU must become more active”, the first point. The second: “Kosovo must be included in NATO.” According to Clewing, this is the only way to ensure the long-term security of Kosovo and to stabilize the region.

The West must reposition itself

Someone who has experienced these developments and the subsequent stagnation from the start is Wolfgang Petritsch. The Austrian was EU Special Representative for Kosovo in 1998 and 1999. As such, he was EU chief negotiator in the 1999 Kosovo peace talks in Rambouillet and Paris. Over the years, this initial euphoria has evaporated. “Expectations were very high in 1999 – but could not be implemented as quickly as desired,” he tells SonntagsBlick. “At a certain point, the EU lost sight of the big picture.”

And now the situation is getting more and more complicated. In recent years there have been repeated clashes between Serbian and Kosovan demonstrators, and the two armies have also been alarmed. Petritsch: “It can’t be like this anymore.” What should I do? “You have to reassess the situation,” says former diplomat Petritsch. And that – given the swirling situation in the north of Kosovo – as soon as possible. “The EU must put together a new comprehensive package for Kosovo and Serbia.” And above all: “The West must take control again.”

Source: Blick