Former top NATO commander General Wesley Clark, who led NATO's bombing campaign against Serbian forces in 1999, says the incident in northern Kosovo poses a real problem for stability in the Balkans. Clark said that NATO needs to strengthen its capabilities to be more effective anywhere in Kosovo, while stating that the weapons likely came from Serbia, and that this may have been a coordinated or at least tacitly approved operation. from Serbian special forces.
"We know from previous experience in the Balkans in the 1990s, and since then, that Serbian monasteries have been a haven for Serbian nationalism. And this does not exclude their use as arsenals. So this is the most worrying thing. I hope that KFOR will insist that these monasteries be inspected and the arsenals confiscated, because there is no place for this in the midst of efforts to reach an autonomy agreement for Kosovo Serb citizens. It is counterproductive and there is no place for threats of violence and weapons", said Clark, reports KosovaPress.
Regarding the terrorist attack last Sunday in the north of Kosovo, Clark said that it is a tragedy and a real problem.
"First of all, it is a tragedy for all parties and it is a real problem for stability in the Balkans. It should be of concern to the European Union and NATO as details of the incident emerge. What is most disturbing to me is that after the incident, it turned out that there was a large stockpile of weapons in the Serbian monastery. This has happened before. We know from previous experience in the Balkans in the 1990s, and since then, that Serbian monasteries have been havens for Serbian nationalism. And this does not exclude their use as arsenals. So this is the most worrying thing. I hope that KFOR will insist that these monasteries be inspected and the arsenals confiscated, because there is no place for this in the midst of efforts to reach an autonomy agreement for Kosovo Serb citizens. It is counterproductive and there is no place for threats of violence and weapons," he continued.
Full interview:
Voice of America: How do you comment on the events that happened last Sunday in the north of Kosovo near the village of Banjska?
Wesley Clark: First of all, it's a tragedy for all parties and it's a real problem for stability in the Balkans. It should be of concern to the European Union and NATO as details of the incident emerge. What is most disturbing to me is that after the incident, it turned out that there was a large stockpile of weapons in the Serbian monastery. This has happened before.
We know from previous experience in the Balkans in the 1990s, and since then, that Serbian monasteries have been havens for Serbian nationalism. And this does not exclude their use as arsenals. So this is the most worrying thing.
I hope that KFOR will insist that these monasteries be inspected and the arsenals confiscated, because there is no place for this in the midst of efforts to reach an autonomy agreement for Kosovo Serb citizens. It is counterproductive and there is no place for threats of violence and weapons.
VOA: What kind of formation would have access to the equipment and resources that were captured after the attack was neutralized?
Wesley Clark: The weapons likely came from Serbia, and perhaps this was an operation coordinated or at least tacitly approved by Serbian special forces. We have seen these types of actions before, because I remember during the campaign or at the beginning of the 1999 air campaign in Kosovo, a group of Serbian soldiers in civilian clothes kidnapped three American soldiers who were part of a patrol in what is now is known as North Macedonia.
They did not have military uniforms, but they crossed the border and kidnapped three American soldiers from a patrol car, beat them and sent them to Belgrade. So, it remains to be seen who the attackers were in the northern part of Kosovo and is related to the special forces and the Serbian government.
Voice of America: The Serbian president claimed that the attackers were local Serbs who could not withstand the repression by Prime Minister Kurti's government. What do you think about this?
Wesley Clark: I would have to understand better what their complaints about the printing are. The crackdown did not begin after the introduction of KFOR in 1999 under French leadership. In essence, Albanian authority was eliminated in that area and Albanians were purged from duties in hospitals or other places where they could serve the community. Since then, the area has been relatively isolated.
It has been a difficult transition for the Kosovo government to deal with Serbian separatism in the north, so I think these claims of repression are nonsense. It's just a statement. There is no indication of any suppression.
In fact, the data shows that this region is paying taxes to Belgrade and funds are coming from Belgrade as if this region were a separate state. But it isn't. It is part of Kosovo. It should be part of the tax system of the government of Kosovo. But it isn't. So there is a real problem there.
Voice of America: Kosovo authorities claim that one of the attackers is Milan Radoicic, vice president of the largest and most influential party of Kosovo Serbs, which has close ties to the ruling Serbian party. It is also under US and UK sanctions. How do you see this?
Wesley Clark: This is further evidence of Serbian government involvement. The incident shows the danger that the implementation of the agreement for the Association, supported by the United States and the European Union, can have. The incident is indicative of a connection with Serbia, the establishment of a military police state that could pose a significant risk of destruction within Kosovo.
VOA: Are there any specific consequences you think the parties should have? Who and in what way?
Wesley Clark: The Serbs who participated in the attack must be brought to justice according to all the rules of Kosovo legislation. I think that NATO should strengthen its capabilities to be efficiently everywhere in Kosovo. If necessary, check Serbian monasteries to see if they house individuals who have been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union. Why should such an individual be the leader of a political party in Kosovo? How can this be allowed? Mr. Thaçi, who has been charged, is still in prison in The Hague. So, there should be a measure of understanding from both sides about the rule of law in Kosovo.
Voice of America: The Serbian Minister of Defense, among other things, said that Serbia is dissatisfied with KFOR's reaction. How should KFOR react in this situation?
Wesley Clark: KFOR must act forcefully against violence in Kosovo, wherever it may be or against the parties who perpetrate violence. That is why KFOR is there.
But I would also note that these actions in Kosovo are not unrelated to the violence in Ukraine. For Russia, fomenting unrest in Kosovo, using Serbia as its proxy, would be the equivalent of a deep attack of hybrid warfare. Russia would like to see more instability in the Balkans, a distraction for NATO, under the pretext that democracy is not working.
The erosion of Kosovo's independence would be in Moscow's interest. It's all part of an agenda being pursued by at least some elements in Belgrade.
Voice of America: Memorials and days of mourning were held for the murdered Serbs, a kind of tribute to the perpetrators. What message does this send?
Wesley Clark: I understand when it comes to family members. But as a matter of state policy, no, these people are outlaws. They violated the rule of law in Kosovo. And those who participated should be punished and not recognized as heroes. But I know that in Serbia and in this region, the legacies of conflict dating back more than a century are ethnic clashes, religious clashes, World War I, World War II and up to the Tito era, the attempt to suppress nationalism Albanian and Milosevic's coming to power, everything has been accompanied by violence, hatred, and inter-ethnic tensions. And it's time to stop it and move forward into the 21st century. It is a real tragedy. I feel so sorry for the family of these people killed on both sides. And the Albanian policeman who was killed, the Kosovo policeman was doing his duty.
He was upholding the rule of law. The Serbs (who undertook the attack) were rebels, terrorists. And they deserve no official recognition. But, of course, it is a tragedy for them and their families. And we are sorry for all the loss of life in the area.
Voice of America: How will this affect the already stalled dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia for the normalization of relations?
Wesley Clark: It's unfortunate, but it won't advance the dialogue. Sensible statesmen on both sides should say this has to stop. It is time to recognize Kosovo, move forward and establish peace in the region.
But this has not happened and is unlikely to happen. But the power of inter-ethnic hatred, the legacy of more than a century of conflict and death is so great that I think the countries of Europe and the United States should come together and simply calm the situation down. To preserve the status quo. We will not see rapid progress towards normalization. We need to find other ways to strengthen stability in the Balkans and take care of the people there.
