Albanija, Kosovo i Croatia recently signed an agreement on military alliance, and sharp reactions are coming from Serbia.
The goal of the memorandum, as stated by the signatories, is to strengthen cooperation in building defense capacities and the defense industry, increase interoperability through education, training and exercises, combat hybrid threats and strengthen strategic resilience, while providing full support for Euro-Atlantic and regional defense integration.
While the signatories praise the agreement and say that it is not a threat to anyone, but a message to all those who dare to threaten security, peace and freedom in the Western Balkans, the Serbian authorities still see a danger in it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia reacted quickly after the signing, announcing that it would send an urgent request to the ministries of foreign affairs of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Albania for a detailed explanation regarding the signing of the trilateral memorandum. The signing of the memorandum was also condemned by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić.
With the signed agreement, as stated in the MSP announcement, "these two countries, together with the illegitimate representative of the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina, have taken steps that undermine regional stability."
"The Republic of Serbia, as a country that is the guarantor of peace and military neutrality in the Balkans, rightly demands answers about the nature and goals of this security cooperation," the announcement states.
As it is added, "it is particularly disturbing that this military alliance is being formed without consultation with Belgrade, with the direct involvement of a structure that has no international legitimacy and that represents a security threat to the Serbian people and the entire region."
"It is extremely indicative that two of Serbia's neighboring countries - Croatia and Albania - have decided to initiate this arrangement, and that the invitation to join has also been sent to our third neighbor - Bulgaria. If, as they claim, this agreement is not directed against anyone, then we demand an explanation as to why Serbia was excluded from any negotiations on collective security in the region?", said the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What do the signatory countries say?
Prime Minister of Kosovo Aljbin Kurti assessed the signed memorandum as an extremely important step for security and congratulated all those who signed it.
Kurti wrote on Facebook: "Congratulations to everyone! An extremely important step for security and peace in the region, through the defense, cooperation and coordination of our peaceful countries, with the trilateral declaration on the military alliance signed today in Tirana by our Minister of Defense (Kosovo) Ejup Macedonci, the Minister of Defense of Albania Pirro Vengu and the Minister of Defense of Croatia Ivan Anušić".
Minister Macedonci said that "the purpose of this cooperation is not to threaten anyone, it is a message to those who intend to threaten the region, to show them that we are together and that we will not allow anyone to destabilize the region."
Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said that "the three countries will be ready to face future security challenges in Southeast Europe, and there is a possibility that this trilateral military alliance will expand with Bulgaria in the future."
Albanian Defense Minister Ejup Venge said that Kosovo and Albania have something to learn from Croatia.
A clear message or a threat to the Balkan countries?
After the signing of the Declaration on the Military Alliance of Kosovo, Albania and Croatia, the retired Albanian General Esad Colaku pointed out that it was a clear signal to Serbia and other countries that may have territorial claims in the Balkans, reports Kosovo Online.
"One of these agreements is a clear message to Belgrade, because this agreement sends a clear message to all those who have territorial claims against other neighboring countries, because we know that Serbia started a war in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo," Čolaku emphasized.
He expressed concern about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that "the situation there is worsening due to the influence of Serbia, which can have dangerous consequences for the entire Balkans."
As for Albania, Colak explained that the country's military forces need further growth, adding that Albania needs to invest more in the number and training of its military forces.
"Albania needs it extremely, because it has few military forces left. In addition to increasing the number of soldiers and units, it must also have a very high level of preparedness. Albania is not directly threatened because Kosovo is in front of it," Čolaku emphasized.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also discussed the agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Vučić stated that by signing a memorandum on defense cooperation with Kosovo, Albania and Croatia "opened an arms race in the region".
"It is a difficult situation for us, but we understood their message. And we will save our country, deter them and always successfully defend against any potential aggressor, even one this powerful," Vučić told reporters in Brussels on March 19.
After the meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, he said that the memorandum represented a "violation of the subregional agreement" and that he was "convinced that NATO was not informed about it". Vučić stated that he raised this topic at the meeting, but did not specify what Rute said.
The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petković, drew attention to the special envoy of the Prime Minister of Hungary for the Western Balkans, Zolt Bunford, to the agreement on military cooperation between Pristina, Albania and Croatia, "which directly violates the current subregional agreement on arms control, and represents an open provocation to Belgrade."
That agreement, as stated by Petković, also represents an open provocation to the Serbian people in Kosovo, and as a consequence it may undermine regional security, peace and stability, the statement of the Office stated.
Croatian officials also responded to Serbia's reaction.
Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić sent a message to the Serbian authorities, saying that it was long past time when Zagreb asked Belgrade what it would do and how it would do.
"The time has passed when Croatia asked Belgrade what it can and should do, and that will never happen again. We have been an independent country for 35 years, we have gone through five years of aggression and politics that advocated such a narrative. Croatia will sign declarations with whoever it wants, and cooperation with Albania and Kosovo is aimed at the exchange of knowledge, cooperation of military industries, support for the Euro-Atlantic path of Albania and Kosovo," Anušić wrote.
Source: Danas/Jutarnji list/Radio Slobodna Evropa/Kosovo online/FoNet
