Ioannis Armakolas stressed that there is currently controlled instability commenting on the new round of tensions in northern Kosovo in a news– analysis on the possible consequences of these tensions to the wider Balkan region.
Additionally, he noted that this controlled instability in the region is in Serbia’s interest as “it is seeking to create a Serb Republic in Kosovo like in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a bad example for the region. The only chance Belgrade may accept Pristina’s independence- currently impossible- is to join the EU”. On the other hand, the prime minister of Kosovo is determined to extend state sovereignty across the country and to break with the West, seeing that Belgrade has been strengthened through the appeasement approach over the past 15 years.
For the above reasons, the European perspectives for both countries are fading away, while, as he points out, enlargement in the Balkans “goes through Ukraine, for which Europe is in a hurry to push ahead with its accession negotiations for security reasons. That is now the priority”.
Click to read the news analysis, in Greek.
