The interview of Prime Minister Albin Kurti in “Milliyet”

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, making assessments for Milliyet, said that the “Western Balkan Six”, especially Kosovo, is in danger due to Russian pressure and influence.

Fatma G. Kabasakallı/ANTALYA – While Russia’s attack on Ukraine worries the Balkan countries, Kosovo, one of the six countries known as the “Western Balkan Six”, feels the threat of Serbia, which has close military, political and economic relations with the Kremlin.
Answering Milliyet’s questions, Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that in the 6 countries known as the “Western Balkan Six” (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), there is a “hybrid war” in which various actors, under the influence and control of Moscow, try to spread Russian hegemony. Prime Minister Kurti warned that Belgrade and Serbs of Bosnia could use Kremlin to spread the conflict in the region, while reiterating his country’s request for membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO.

While stating that they had condemned from the outset Russia’s military attack on Ukraine, Kurti said: “There is a Russian Humanitarian Centre in Niš, Serbia and a Sputnik Regional Centre in Belgrade. The Serb entity in Bosnia also plays the role of Kremlin’s substitute. I believe that Serbia and the Serb entity in Bosnia can be used by the Kremlin to spread the conflict, because they want to produce a new Yalta Conference that causes division to create a violent influence. Therefore, I think that the Western Balkan Six in general, but Kosovo in particular, are in danger,” he said.

EU money, Russian weapons

Drawing attention to Serbia’s military proximity to Russia and Belarus, Prime Minister Kurti said: “Serbia has been seeking EU money and Russian weapons for more than 10 years. It also continues to buy military equipment from Russia and Belarus. I hope the EU tells Belgrade as soon as possible that EU funds will not be given without EU values,” he said.

Kurti said that “Serbia has allocated 3 percent of its national income for military equipment and training. There are 14 Mig-29 fighter jets, 8 of which were provided by Belarus and 6 by Russia … The ties between Serbia and Russia are wide and deep. I think that in order to ensure security and lasting long-term peace, the entire Western Balkan Six should join the EU and NATO as soon as possible.

“There was no situation that Turkey did not support.”

“The support of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Kosovo’s membership in NATO is very important to us and we are grateful for that. We are also very grateful for Turkey’s role before, during and after Kosovo’s independence. Turkey is one of the first countries to recognize our independence … In all international arenas, Turkey’s vote has always been in Kosovo’s favour. In this regard, there has never been a situation where Kosovo wanted something and Turkey did not support it … We would very much like to deepen and expand our relations with Turkey.”