Hoti: Turkey can contribute to de-escalation in the Western Balkans

Professor of International Relations Afrim Hoti assessed that the neutral stance Turkey maintains toward both Serbia and Kosovo could contribute to their rapprochement, as well as to the de-escalation of the situation in the Western Balkans.

In October, Turkey will take over the rotating command of KFOR in Kosovo, and next year it will host the NATO summit.

For Hoti, these are good developments, because official Ankara maintains a neutral position both on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and on the situation in the Western Balkans.

“It is truly important that Turkey is taking command, although it would have been the same if another NATO member had taken the position. The benefit of having Turkey lead KFOR lies in the position this country has toward both Kosovo and Serbia. Turkey has a more neutral stance toward these two countries; it is not ‘connected’ only with Kosovo, but also has good relations with Serbia. In this sense, I believe that Turkey can play a better role in the interest of both sides. From my point of view, it is in the interest not only of Kosovo but also of Serbia to become closer, to communicate, to build bridges rather than divide into ethnic groups,” Hoti told Kosovo Online.

He also stressed the importance for the Western Balkans that the next NATO summit will be held in Turkey.

“In the NATO context, I don’t think the location of the summit itself matters, but Turkey is one of the key countries of the alliance. However, for the Western Balkans it is significant due to Turkey’s much more neutral position toward the region, as well as its excellent relations with Serbia. Therefore, Turkey hosting the summit may encourage Serbia’s political leaders to be much more cooperative, more engaged, and more constructive in the Western Balkans, which would also lead to de-escalation of the situation—first between Serbia and Kosovo, and then in the entire Western Balkans,” Hoti concluded.