KFOR has the military and political power to deter any aggression against Kosovo, says former British officer Ade Clewlow. However, he rules out the possibility of a direct conflict in the country as long as the troops of this mission remain in Kosovo. How far away is Kosovo from NATO membership and should the KSF be stationed in the north, he talks in an interview for KosovaPress, a former soldier who witnessed one of the most important processes - the dissolution of the KPC and the creation of the KSF.

Ade Clewlow, who served 25 years in the British Army, believes that the Western Balkans is not a stable region.

According to him, a major contribution to this uncertainty is made by the European Union countries that have not yet recognized Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo became a state on February 17, 2008 and was recognized by more than 100 countries around the world, but continues to be unrecognized by Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania, and Cyprus – countries that are part of the bloc.

"The Western Balkans is not a stable region, and this is largely due to some EU states that have not yet recognized Kosovo, contributing to the uncertainty. Trump’s alliance with Putin is clear, as is Putin’s relationship with Belgrade. We also understand Serbia’s intention to create instability in the Balkans whenever possible. I believe that there is no chance of a direct conflict as long as KFOR remains in Kosovo.", He says.

Clewlow sees the role of KFOR in Kosovo as very important, as he says, for preventing any aggression that may come to the state from abroad.

This mission increased its presence in Kosovo two years ago, when tensions increased in the north of the country and there were attacks on the Kosovo Police and critical state infrastructure.

"KFOR is certainly much smaller now than when I was first here [in 2008], but it plays an extremely important role in deterring any external aggressors who might have intentions of changing the political landscape of Kosovo. Although KFOR's mission remains the same - ensuring free movement and a secure environment - its presence is essential. In reality, KFOR has the military and political power to deter any aggression against Kosovo.", he says, writes KosovaPress.

The NATO peacekeeping mission has been deployed in Kosovo since 1999, when the war ended. There are 4.600 troops currently stationed in Kosovo as part of KFOR, from 29 countries.

However, the Kosovo Police is the first responder, with EULEX, the European Union's rule of law mission. KFOR is the third responder.

Kosovo also has a Security Force, which is in the process of being transformed into an army. However, in 2013, Kosovo institutions pledged that the KSF would not go to the north without the prior consent of KFOR.

According to the former British soldier, the deployment of the KSF in the north could be seen as a provocation and incite actions by Serbs funded by Belgrade.

"From what I know of the situation on the ground, deploying the KSF in northern Kosovo would be, as the saying goes, "A red rag to a bull". Despite the fact that northern Kosovo is part of Kosovo's sovereignty and that theoretically the KSF should be able to be deployed there, the reality on the ground is that people would see this as a provocation - which could lead to retaliatory actions by a small group of ethnic Serbs taking orders from Belgrade and aiming to destabilize relations between ethnic Serbs and the rest of Kosovo.", says Clewlow.

The Briton says that new geopolitical developments should not be ignored, while also mentioning President Donald Trump, who took office in January of this year.

"If Trump follows the same approach in the Western Balkans as in Ukraine, then stability in the region will be Europe's responsibility. European states will have to do more to guarantee a safe environment here," Clewlow estimates.

In the interview for KosovaPressClewlow also talks about Kosovo's aspirations for NATO membership - a process that, according to him, is expected to take time.

"Kosovo has always wanted to be a contributor to security, not a consumer of it. I would like to say that I see Kosovo joining NATO soon, but the future of NATO as an organization is being questioned - especially with regard to the role of the US. Unfortunately, I do not believe that Kosovo will join NATO anytime soon. However, the closer Kosovo gets to its European allies, the greater the chance for a sustainable future.", says the former British officer.

Ade Clowlow, tasked with missions in many countries around the world, found himself in Kosovo as a lieutenant colonel in 2008 – shortly after the declaration of independence.

He was tasked with operational duties for six months and witnessed firsthand the process of disbanding the Kosovo Protection Corps, as well as the creation of the Kosovo Security Force in January 2009.

He also kept his experience in Kosovo in writing, which he would later title "Under a Feathered Sky: Role in the Newly Independent Kosovo."

"When I came to Kosovo in 2008, I had no plans to write a book. But, in my first weeks here, observing the behavior of my senior officers in KFOR, I realized that what I was seeing was worthy of being written in a book.", says the former soldier, among other things, during the interview for KosovaPress.

When talking about KFOR at that time, Ade Clelow says that there were big differences about how to act in Kosovo.

“The role was very politicized when it came to supporting the KPC and transitioning to the Kosovo Security Force,” he says.

"A brigadier general told me to sit in a corner, take notes and report on what was happening in the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPK). But that was never going to be my approach to the job. It was not how a British officer would understand the role. I was the 19th liaison officer to the KPC and it was clear to me that my job was to support and advise the KPC commanders. However, after a few weeks in this role, I realised how political KFOR was. There were huge differences in the way it was supposed to operate in Kosovo – between NATO in Brussels and KFOR in Pristina. The role was very politicised when it came to supporting the KPC and the transition to the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). I found myself in the middle of this situation and it was an extremely frustrating experience. Kosovo had only declared independence six months earlier, so national sensitivities and political positions played a major role in making important decisions, especially on the closure of the KPC and the creation of the KSF.", says the former British officer.

Clewlow says he had "decided not to remain silent," even though in some cases, it could cost him.

"I decided not to remain silent. Instead, I helped and guided the KPC generals, trying to make sure that we closed the KPC and set up the KSF properly. There were moments when I realized that I could get into trouble for my reputation. However, I always believed that the British chain of command would support me. In Kosovo, I had a two-star general who had my back. He knew what I was doing and that I was doing the right thing. That gave me confidence from a British perspective. But over time, it became clear that some saw me as an obstacle to their plans,” says the former soldier.

These and other parts of his experience in Kosovo are written by Clewlow in his book, which is also being promoted in Albanian on Thursday, in Pristina.

“One of the most special moments for me - and I talked about it in my book - was the celebration marking the closure of the Kosovo Protection Corps. There was a parade held near the KPC headquarters, which is now used by another agency. The event had the atmosphere of the last day of school. The KSF was close, ready to be established. We all went to celebrate the closure of this organization after nine years, to the StoneCastle winery and had a lunch there...Really, that celebration captured everyone's feelings about the past, but it also had a very strong element of hope for the future,” he says.

The book in Albanian brought the Briton back to Kosovo once again, giving him the opportunity to meet friends and see places that were once very familiar to him.

"The look of Pristina has changed. Every time I go back - which doesn't happen often - I see new buildings everywhere. Driving from the airport today, I had a hard time recognizing places that were once familiar to me. It was only in the city center, where things haven't changed that much, that I really felt like I was in Pristina again,” says Clewlow../KosovaPress

/Kosovapress/