Kurti: Balkan countries neither want nor are capable of going to war with each other

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that Kosovo is clearly committed to Western democracy and that without Russian influence, the Western Balkans would stabilize as the countries of the region are neither willing nor capable of engaging in interstate violence.

In an interview for today's edition of the daily Neue Zurherr Zeitung (NZZ), when asked about Kosovo's position on the border between the West, Turkey and Russia, Kurti said that Kosovo is not balancing between East and West, that it wants to join the European Union and NATO, and that it purchases military equipment such as Bayraktar drones from Turkey, a NATO member.

"As far as Russia is concerned, we have always had a healthy distance from each other," Kurti said.

"The moment Russian influence, especially in Serbia and Republika Srpska, is withdrawn, the region will stabilize. In the six Balkan states, there is neither the will nor the capacity for interstate violence," Kurti said.

According to him, Russia's hybrid attempts to exert influence through energy, the military and the media are problematic. "Real changes depend on democratic forces in Serbia," Kurti said.

Kurti assessed that "Serbia can no longer block the European integration of the entire region."

"We no longer have to wait for Serbia to differentiate itself from Russia. In addition, with North Macedonia and Albania, which are already in NATO, dynamics are entering the entire process, and that is already progress. Serbia no longer has veto power over the entire region," Kurti said.

Kurti said that the time is "ripe for the Western Balkans to finally become a part of Europe politically," but assessed that "Brussels has so far focused too much on who can be admitted, and less on who wants to join."

"Of the six Western Balkan countries, five want to join the EU by majority vote, with the exception of Serbia. The decisive factor is: Whoever wants to become a member should be supported," Kurti said.

Commenting on the fact that five EU members still do not recognize Kosovo's independence, Kurti said that some of those countries, such as Spain and Greece, are hesitant, but they recognize the Stabilization and Association Agreement and visa liberalization for the Schengen area, and Spain, in the meantime, also recognizes the Kosovo passport.

"In light of the threat that Russia poses to Europe, there is no longer the luxury of excessive skepticism among European states," Kurti said.

Speaking about the convincing victory that his Vetëvendosje movement achieved in the parliamentary elections in December, Kurti said that this victory also means a special responsibility for him and that his mandate will be marked by security, protection and investments.

The plan, according to him, is to support small and medium-sized enterprises with one billion euros, through guarantees and new jobs, and another billion will be invested in the country's defense.

"In this context, we will create industrial bases, including an ammunition factory in Gjakova. A new National Stadium with 8.000 seats is also planned, as Kosovo, together with European partners, will host the Mediterranean Games in 2028," Kurti said.

He also said that a feasibility study for a gas connection to Europe is being conducted and that Kosovo, although it has large coal reserves, wants to abandon the use of coal "in the long term".

He added that gasification is only a temporary solution, and that parallel work is planned on renewable energy sources and the construction of railway lines, assessing that the railway is "green and safe."