Ibishi: The Balkans still a powder keg, politicians should reduce tensions – the time of "Greater Serbia" and "Greater Albania" is over

Security expert from Pristina, Nuredin Ibishi, assesses that the Balkans are still a powder keg, which is why NATO, by deploying additional forces and heavy weaponry, wants to prevent possible conflicts, however, as he says, it is up to the politicians in the region to reduce tensions and understand that it is no longer the time for "Greater Serbia" or "Greater Albania".

"We cannot invent new leaders. That must be done by the politicians in power now. They need to reduce tensions and understand that it is no longer the time for 'Greater Serbia' or 'Greater Albania.' Agreements need to be made, and forgiveness needs to be given for what happened during the wars, war crimes committed on all sides, and peaceful means need to be used to solve the problems. The only way is integration into Europe, freedom of movement, trade, exchange of goods, ideas... Simply, integration," Ibishi emphasized for Kosovo Online.

According to him, NATO's sending of additional troops to the region is a message to the Western Balkan countries that since they haven't overcome the problems and transition from post-conflict states to integration into the EU in time, the only option is for this Alliance to strengthen its presence and thus prevent possible future conflicts.

Ibishi says that tensions are most noticeable in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

"All of this indicates that NATO is increasing its presence in the Balkans, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, not only with personnel but also with heavy weaponry to calm the situation, reach agreements, and move towards EU integration," he said.

He adds that NATO also wants to prevent Russia from expanding the conflict beyond the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that this is important due to the growing tensions between Israel and Iran.

Ibishi says that in a potential new conflict in the Balkans, everyone would actually be losers.

"The Balkans are still risky, still a powder keg, it can ignite like the fragmentation of the former SFRY. Tensions are still possible because of the aspirations of Vucic, Dodik, and the pro-Russian part in Montenegro to create a balance with the 'Serbian world' in relation to the Albanian one. It's simply a dominance over territory, but I don't think it will be possible. I don't believe that there will be a redrawing of borders in relation to the existing ones in the near future. Peace and integration into Europe are the only way, and tendencies for conflict expansion and hegemony in the Balkans are a potential risk for a new conflict," Ibishi concluded.