Kosovo. Having been released by a French court on terrorism charges, the reemergence of Ramos Hardinai sets the stage for an explosive situation in the Balkans, as all wonder what whill happent next?
The former Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo, Ramush Hardinaj, recently released by a French court on charges of war crimes during the break-up of Yugoslavia, made a statement on territorial claims to Serbia. And these claims are widespread and not just touching the province of Kosovo and Metohija.
“If Serbia continues to leave Kosovo in its Constitution, then we can answer the same and include in our Constitution a third of the territory of Serbia!” – said Hardinaj.
His threats were sharply reacted in Belgrade.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic advised Hardinaj to hold his tongue, and at the same time noted that he himself said that the supporters of the “great Albanian” project really will hold their anger in check as well.
“What would happen if Serbia declared the same in the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina?” – asked Dacic, accusing the international community of not paying closer attention to the inflamatory rhetoric lately.
The head of the Serbian Chancellery for Kosovo and Metohija, Marco Djuric, stated that “Serbia is not afraid of people who took off the uniforms of terrorists and became themselves politicians.”
Escalation of the situation occurs against the backdrop of early elections in Kosovo. Recently, there, after a vote of no confidence, the government was dissolved, this was due to a vote on the demarcation of the border with Montenegro. The position of the new prime minister now passes to Hardina, which, according to experts, will inevitably lead to even more acute tensions in Kosovo and the Balkans.