Former Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo has stated that any quick and negative agreement on Ukraine would have an impact on several other Regions of the world, including the Western Balkans. He stated in the KTV Special on Monday that if the situation moves as currently projected, it would affect many Regions and would encourage “the resolution of crises no longer through dialogue, but through the force of imposition”. “Here I have the right to draw attention to the fact that the influence of a possible, inappropriate and unhelpful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict could negatively affect the Western Balkans, could negatively affect the prospects for resolving known disputes, not to mention conflicts”, Milo said.
According to the former minister, changing borders in Ukraine could create conflict situations in Kosovo as well, while adding that if Russia wins the war, other countries will be pushed to act with the logic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If the agreement on Ukraine is favorable to Russia, undoubtedly the circles supported by Russia in the Western Balkans, primarily Serbia, will be encouraged to act with Putin’s logic and philosophy towards Ukraine but also towards the international community. I am concerned that we should be attentive to how Kosovo should prepare to face a difficult situation in the future,” he added.
According to him, there is a fear that the Western Balkans will suffer from the bad deal in Ukraine. “There is a fear option that a non-positive deal for Ukraine could have a negative effect on the resolution of crises and conflicts in other Regions, including the Western Balkans… We must admit that the American president has an atypical, non-diplomatic approach to tradition and conflicts. He seeks to solve problems in the shortest, most direct way possible, without taking into account the delicate relations that may be created in the Region”, Milo further emphasized. The former Albanian minister called for Kosovo and Albania to come closer together in order to face the challenges of the future together.
“No one should harbor illusions that we can face the challenges that await us alone or with alliances that do not have the sensitivity or will that a united Kosovo and Albania can have to protect national interests and the fate of the future. I wish the Albanians that the two nations will move forward hand in hand and I hope that this will happen because it is the Albanians themselves, in Kosovo and Albania, who will know how to react, to orient themselves in this situation that remains to be seen whether it will be in their favor or will present them with a challenge,” he emphasized.
