NATO is concerned about the situation in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a statement before the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament.
Asked by the MEPs present, Rutte said that the alliance is in constant contact with Kosovo and Serbia to ensure new elections in order to avoid destabilization, writes A2 CNN.
"Of course, we have some concerns there, especially about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the relations between Serbia and Kosovo. However, we are in contact with Kosovo, but also with Serbia, to ensure that the elections that will take place later in Kosovo in February do not lead to destabilization. This is key. In the Western Balkans region we really have to remain engaged because it is a key neighboring region for us", said Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, writes A2 CNN.
Rutte has named the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the relations between Kosovo and Serbia as key issues in the Western Balkan region. Rutte added that the alliance will not allow there to be any security vacuum, neither in Bosnia and Herzegovina, nor elsewhere in the Western Balkans region.
NATO has a military presence in Kosovo through its peacekeeping mission, KFOR. During past tensions in the north, the alliance has repeatedly warned that it is ready to intervene if deemed necessary. Meanwhile, during the debate in the EP, the head of the alliance said that in these dangerous times it is necessary for the European Union and NATO to strengthen cooperation.
According to him, Russia is trying to destabilize the member countries of the alliance and the European bloc. "We are deeply concerned about security in Europe. We are not at war, but we are not at peace either," he said, asking for increased investments in security and defense by member countries. (A2 Televizion)
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