The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said that the tensions in the north of Kosovo have been prepared for a long time by Serbia, which has been encouraged and helped by Russia, while adding that they aim to destabilize the Western Balkans. But, according to her, Russian President Vladimir Putin will fail in his efforts to destabilize the Balkans.
In an interview for BBC Newsnight, President Osmani said that Kosovo has never contributed and will not contribute to escalation or violence, while she asked everyone to be vigilant in order not to fall prey to Serbian-Russian propaganda and misinformation.
“Tensions are escalating. However, there have been preparations by Serbia, encouraged and helped by Russia for a long time, to attempt the escalation of the Western Balkans in general and in Kosovo in particular in the last decade that Vucic has led Serbia, but especially in the last months where they continued to support the illegal structures in the north of Kosovo which consist of criminal gangs. Through them and by manipulating them, they are holding the Serbian minority living in Kosovo hostage to these wrong policies,” she said.
The head of the country has emphasized the fact that Kosovo borders a state that is completely controlled by Russia.
“Kosovo has never contributed and will not contribute to escalation or violence. But we have to understand that we live next to a neighbor that is completely controlled by Russia. They are fighting our democratic way of life, this is a fight against the values with which we live every day, which are the foundations of our independent state”, said Osmani.
She said that it is Serbia’s actions that are creating tensions.
“There must be a very clear stance towards Serbia, which is playing into the hands of Russia, and is a country that has not approved sanctions. Serbia is actually making arms and gas deals with Russia at a time when the rest of Europe is adopting sanctions against Russia. So, accommodating them is not the right way forward,” she told the BBC.
Osmani also sent a message to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, telling him that he will fail in the efforts to destabilize the Balkans through Serbia.
“That he will fail, he will fail in Ukraine and he will absolutely fail in his goals when it comes to destabilizing the Western Balkans through his satellite, Serbia. And I want to assure all our citizens, especially our Serbian citizens, that we are all working so that everyone feels equal, everyone feels integrated in our society, as well as in our institutions. No one should fall prey to Russian and Serbian propaganda,” concluded Osmani.
