Bystron: The Serbs in Kosovo like hostages; Germany should withdraw recognition

The Serbs in Kosovo are the most endangered people in Europe because they live in a militarily occupied part of their own country, and Germany should withdraw its recognition of Kosovo, Petr Bystron, the head of the Foreign Policy Committee of the parliamentary group Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag, said in an interview with Kosovo Online.

According to him, the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has failed, and he believes everyone can see that. He sees the reason for the failure in the fact that Pristina is not fulfilling its obligations.

"The negotiations have failed. The two sides cannot agree, primarily because the Kosovo Albanians do not fulfill what they have committed to. There are many signed agreements that Albin Kurti does not adhere to, and that is why the negotiations have reached a 'dead end'", Bystron is convinced.

When asked why Kurti saw his biggest ally in Germany, Bystron explained that the reason was the fact that Berlin represented US interests.

Germans, he points out, are an "extended arm of the United States" and do only what the Americans want in the Western Balkans.

"Germany represents US interests. The very fact that there is the second-largest military base in Kosovo after Ramstein says it all", he explained.

Asked whether he thought Kurti would accept the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, as provided for in the Brussels Agreement, Bystron said that he definitely would not do it.

"He certainly won't do it, and he shows that in the negotiations. Kurti is stringing along the Serbian side. The Albanians violate all the agreements and promises they have made. They don't adhere to anything. They are buying time", Bystron is convinced.

He agrees with the assessment that the Serbs in Kosovo are the most endangered population in Europe.

"They live in a militarily occupied part of their country. These are 100,000 hostages", the German MP emphasized.

When asked whether the German army, Bundeswehr, should send more troops to KFOR, he responded negatively. Not only that, he believes that Germany should realize that the Kosovo experiment is a complete failure and should withdraw its recognition.

"It should also realize that not only the bombing of FR Yugoslavia in 1999 was a violation of international law, which destroyed the territorial integrity of a country, but it should realize that it was a huge mistake to recognize Kosovo as a state, as that construct is not a state. It cannot survive and is only an EU and US protectorate. Germany should withdraw its recognition of Kosovo", Bystron states.

When it comes to the future of the Western Balkans in the European Union, Bystron notes that the Western Balkans now has alternatives and can choose their direction.

He points out that a few years ago, it seemed like the only possibility for the Western Balkans to achieve economic prosperity with security and political components, guaranteeing a good life for people was EU accession, but that has changed.

"The geopolitical situation has changed, and people in the Western Balkans now see that there are alternatives to the Union. Primarily, the BRICS countries. There are opportunities for cooperation with China, Russia, and other countries, including Arab nations. Economic success can be achieved in this way. The balance has shifted, and people in the Western Balkans can now choose which path they want to follow. The EU is no longer the only option", Bystron warns.

Speaking about the relations between Serbia and Germany, he pointed out that they are traditionally good, with some burdens, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the Kosovo issue.

"I would say we have good, traditional relations. These relations are slightly burdened by the 'green' Foreign Minister who makes Germany look ridiculous worldwide and isn't popular in Germany either, as she doesn't represent the country's interests but wants to impose her green ideology", the interlocutor of Kosovo Online says.

He criticizes Annalena Baerbock for trying, as he says, to dictate to countries how they should live and think from a high-handed position.

"This is not well-received anywhere, including Serbia", he notes.

In addition, he notes that the Kosovo issue burdens Germany's relations with Serbia because Berlin unreasonably encourages Kosovo's entry into international organizations, including the recent entry into the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

"That pressure is absolutely counterproductive", Bystron believes.

His party is gaining popularity among the citizens of Germany, and when asked if he saw the possibility of the AfD having a chancellor in five to ten years, Bystron reminded that the party leader, Alice Weidel, had stated on several occasions that she would gladly take on that role.

He also notes that current polls show that the AfD is the second-strongest party in Germany, and research on the European Parliament elections even indicates that they are the most influential political force.

Moreover, in certain German states, according to public opinion polls, the AfD is already the strongest, and upcoming elections in the following months or the next two years will be crucial.

"Let's see how we fare, and perhaps next time you will be able to interview the German Chancellor, Alice Weidel", Petr Bystron concludes with optimism.