Serbia, which is NATO's main partner in the Western Balkans and crucial for the stability of the region, should bring to justice those responsible for the attacks on Kosovo police officers in Banjska and members of the KFOR mission in Zvečan as soon as possible, an alliance official in Brussels said today.
An alliance official told a group of journalists from the Western Balkans, who are covering a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, that the prosecution of those responsible for the 2023 attacks is frequently discussed with Serbian officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić.
"We are receiving messages from Serbian officials that there will be a legal process and that those responsible will be brought to justice. This is of crucial importance to NATO and we use every opportunity to point out the urgency of these processes," the official said, when asked whether the alliance has received guarantees from Belgrade that those responsible for the attacks will be prosecuted.
The official also stated that NATO is paying a lot of attention to the security situation in Kosovo, as there have been tensions and escalations in previous years.
"First of all, the attacks on KFOR forces in Zvecan and the attack in Banjska were particularly concerning for NATO. NATO's commitment to stability in Kosovo and the alliance's engagement in Kosovo remain quite strong," he added.
He also said that it is important for Serbia to continue to use its influence to contribute to the stabilization of the region, as a common strategic goal of the two sides.
"Serbia is our partner and we have a common strategic interest - the stability of the Western Balkans. We view Serbia as an important partner that should help us strengthen stability in the region," the official said.
He described the developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo as worrying, stating that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Sarajevo and Pristina on March 10 and 11 "speaks to the importance of developments in the region for the alliance."
"Rute said in Sarajevo that NATO will not allow security to be jeopardized and a security vacuum to be created in BiH. He also reiterated NATO's commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH," he added.
Asked about calls from Sarajevo for NATO to send its forces to the Brčko District after the latest moves by the Republika Srpska authorities, the official said that the alliance "does not have a security mandate" in BiH, but rather acts in support of the EUFOR mission.
"Rute was clear that the constitutional order of BiH must be preserved and that the Dayton Agreement must be respected. It was a clear message that NATO is strongly committed to the stability of BiH and will not allow the hard-won peace to be jeopardized," said an alliance official.
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