EU 'Delays' Can Spur Worst-Case Scenario in Balkans, Kosovo PM Warns

The "delays" in the EU integration of the Western Balkans might unlock the worst-case scenario for the region, the redrawing of borders, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has warned in an op-ed exclusively provided to Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency).

Thaci's opinion article entitled "European Union's Delays as Impediment for the Western Balkans" was provided to Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), the largest Bulgarian English-language media, on the occasion of May 9, Day of Europe; it is published in Novinite.com's Diplomatic Channel section.

"Any further delays from EU to accelerate the membership of the remaining aspiring countries of the Western Balkans directly undermine our efforts to build multiethnic societies in our countries," Kosovo's PM writes.

"Furthermore, delays will serve to the radicals' aspirations to work on their agenda of creating mono-ethnic states. As consequence, this could lead towards the change of internationally recognized borders – the worst case scenario," he adds.

Thaci states he has no doubt that the Republic of Kosovo deserves its "rightful place" in the EU family, with EU membership prospects providing a "roadmap of hope" for the people of Kosovo and the entire Western Balkans.

"Kosovars have understood that membership into big democratic families cannot take place while obstructing the development of the others. Personally I am deeply convinced that the entire region will suffer if EU is thinking to close its door for newcomers like us. This would have been serious mistake," Thaci's warning continues.

This is the minimum we ask and it is a European principle. We do not ask for favors compared to others, but we likewise do not want to be deprived. In fact, the EU course of action towards Kosovo, until now is still in the phase of rhetoric. EU highlights the importance of European perspective for Kosovo, but no concrete step is seen and all this remains simply as a rhetoric.

"We continue to believe in the European principles and values, but that has not helped Kosovo not to be considered still as a black hole of the region. This is the right moment for Kosovo to move forward and get closer to the EU destination; it's also time for EU to tell us that beyond the rhetoric, the future of Kosovo is also concretely linked with European perspective," Thaci concludes.

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