Activization of extremists in the Balkans: Kosovo alone is not enough
Negotiations began again between Serbia and the self-proclaimed and partially recognized Balkan Republic of Kosovo. They began after a rather long break, during which both Belgrade and Pristina very actively exchanged mutual pricks in the form of statements about provocations on the border line and, in particular, in the north of Kosovo. In order to somehow lower the degree of incandescence, it was decided to hold a meeting between the head of the Serbian government, Ivica Dacic and the Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. Naturally, the meeting was not organized either in Belgrade or in Pristina, and Brussels was chosen as the venue. Well, as they chose ... Brussels itself vividly insisted that the Serbs and the Kosovars met regarding the settlement of relations between themselves, and they met with the active mediation of Mrs Ashton, who is called upon to determine the foreign policy of the European Union. And since Belgrade is trying to at least occasionally declare that it is seeking European integration, and Kosovo appeared in the geopolitical arena in general, not without EU efforts, Catherine Ashton decided that it has all the levers to control the Balkan settlement process. In general, Prime Minister Dacic and Taci met and talked about how to deal with the situation around the so-called IBM (please do not confuse it with a well-known company) under the strict control of Mrs. Ashton. Belgrade and Pristina have their own IBM, which is “integrated transition management”. We are talking about transitions on the administrative border of Kosovo and Serbia. And over these transitions over the past few years, the real passions boiled, which led, among other things, to armed conflicts between the parties.
The situation around the mentioned crossings is complicated by the fact that both governments (Serbian and Kosovo) express an indispensable desire for individual control over checkpoints. Moreover, each side is confident that it is her police and military formations that will provide the best security system at the border. But it is quite obvious that today such confidence cannot be reinforced by anything, even by the presence of a peacekeeping contingent in the north of Kosovo. This contingent, by the way, can be called peacemaking with a big stretch, because for a number of years he has been trying to defend the interests of the Albanian population of Kosovo with a manic obstinacy, but does not pay attention to the interests of the Kosovo Serbs.
After the meeting, the Serbian newspapers rather restrainedly responded to its results, which (the results) in the same Brussels were very impressive. And how can the Serbs in general appreciate something positively, if almost immediately after the negotiations of Thaci and Dacic in the northern provinces of Kosovo, which are mostly populated by ethnic Serbs, Albanian extremist groups became more active. One of these groups is the so-called Albanian National Army, which is recognized as terrorist in a number of states (including the European Union). The activists of the ANA (the Albanian National Army) are calling on the Kosovo authorities not to negotiate with the Serbs in general, and if some “pro-Serbian” agreements are reached, promise to launch large-scale terrorist attacks not only on the population of the Serb enclaves, but also on the government buildings in Pristina. In other words, the ANA is trying to dictate its terms, according to which Serbia has no rights to Kosovo - this is one time, and it’s time for Kosovo to join the “Greater Albania” - these are two.
As the first frightening action, Kosovo militants launched a raid on the Serbian part of Kosovo’s Mitrovica and fired on several houses of local residents. At the same time, the raid took place literally under the noses of the very peacekeepers who, according to the mandate, must ensure security in the north of the province of Kosovo. Surprisingly, the terrorist action itself, as well as the threats of Albanian extremists, were not given the attention of the Western democratic press. But you can imagine what kind of hubbub would have been raised in the West if the Albanian settlements of Kosovo were attacked by the Serbs. Then, at the very least, extraordinary condemning resolutions would fall down, at the maximum, the “peacekeepers” would use their forces and means to “force the Serbs to peace”.
In connection with the intensification of Albanian militants on the territory of Kosovo, the Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said that in the territory that from time immemorial belonged to Serbia, real ethnic segregation is flourishing today. He said that in modern Kosovo, people do not have the possibility of free religion, which directly contradicts all modern international standards. In his interview with the BBC, Nikolic speaks very harshly about Pristina’s desire to get recognition of independence from Belgrade. The current Serbian leader, who, unlike his predecessor Boris Tadic, does not harbor pro-Western views, responding to questions from British journalists, makes it clear that he considers Kosovo a rebellious province that will never achieve independence and membership in the UN.
Tomislav Nikolic has also allowed himself such harsh statements about Kosovo because Pristina has obviously not taken any measures to suppress the outbreaks of overt extremism on his territory. Moreover, in Kosovo there is a completely open support of organizations, with which they are trying with all their might to break the last ties of interaction with Belgrade.
One of the manifestations of anti-Serb activity by the Albanians is the erection of a monument dedicated to the soldiers of the so-called liberation army of the territories - Presevo, Bujanovac and Mevedji. The monument was erected not even in Kosovo, but in the Serbian community of Presevo, which is inhabited predominantly by Albanians. Premier Dacic said that if the monument is not dismantled by the local authorities before he starts meeting with the Kosovo leader, the fate of the monument will be decided by bulldozers from Belgrade. The deputies of the Serbian parliament noted that this is another provocation of the Albanians, which is aimed at trying to cut off more pieces from Serbia besides the province of Kosovo.
As soon as the words of the Serbian Prime Minister Dacic reached Pristina and Tirana, they were immediately regarded there as a threat to the entire Albanian population. In particular, Asem Vlasi, a government adviser on Kosovo’s foreign affairs, said that if at least one Albanian suffers in Preševo (this is Serbian territory), this could be the beginning of a serious conflict, the reasons for which will be reported to Brussels. Well, where else can official Pristina report, which continues to use its political shkodnichestvo to expand the sphere of influence? .. Of course, to the patron of Brussels, which, through the bombing of Serbia together with Washington and spawned an “independent Kosovo”.
So that the situation around the monument to the fighters of an extremist organization did not go beyond the framework, during the negotiations in Brussels it was proposed not only to dismantle the monument, but to dismantle it together with its transfer to a “more convenient place”.
This proposal of Western experts is still being actively discussed by the parties, and meanwhile the situation around the revitalization of the militant activities of the ANA continues to heat up. It is obvious that the very fact of the activity of the ANA activists in the immediate vicinity of the positions of the European Union peacekeepers suggests that Europe, voluntarily or unwittingly, is itself an active sponsor of extremism on its borders. Obviously, these “brave lads” will obviously not be limited to the territory of Kosovo or Serbia alone. And if we consider that in many countries of the so-called “old” Europe, radical Islamism is gaining momentum, then the same ANA can easily find its supporters in Brussels, in London, and in Paris ...
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