 |
Austrian analyst Gunther Fehlinger was invited this Friday on Euronews Albania, where he made some strong statements regarding the security situation in the Balkans.
Fehlinger emphasized that the EU must be ready to respond to Serbia if it attempts to start a war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.
The analyst also appealed to Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro to prepare to show Serbia that military actions aimed at changing borders will not be tolerated.
"We cannot accept the Russian occupation of Serbia. We must support change in Belgrade and throughout Serbia.
Recognition of Kosovo by Serbia must be non-negotiable, but we must be prepared for a war from Serbia in Kosovo and Bosnia, as the Vučić regime is very dangerous. Therefore, we must defend Kosovo and Bosnia before the Republic of Srpska breaks away. All Balkan armies must be ready to defend Kosovo. Albania and Macedonia must secure themselves and show Serbia that such actions cannot be taken.
For Serbia, the best scenario is to break away from Russia. Serbia must not become the new Belarus. In the recent elections in Belarus, Lukashenko lost, yet he remains in power. Serbia today is the Belarus of the Balkans, and the best proof of this is when the president criticizes his own people a day after the elections.
Serbia is armed by Serbia and is under Russian political influence, which has been the case since 2003 with the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.
They have not joined the sanctions, have trade relations with Russia, and have a center in Niš considered a humanitarian center, but in fact, it is a military base.
It is a very dangerous connection and a problematic moment, so everyone must be ready, including Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro," said the analyst.
Fehlinger emphasized that the next two weeks will be difficult for the Balkans, urging the U.S. to increase troops and show Serbia that any attempt to take territory will receive a deserved response.
"The next two weeks will be very tough. Russia wants to have Serbia always on its side; so far, it has been successful, but Russia itself is on the verge of economic collapse, and the last thing it needs is sanctions from Serbia. Russian presence and cooperation Serbia is offering pose the greatest risk in the Balkans. Serbia seeks to turn Kosovo into a kind of Donbass, so a larger presence of U.S. troops in the Balkans is needed to show Serbia that any attempt to take territory will receive the deserved response; this is the only way to preserve peace," said the analyst.