German AfD lawmaker Tobias Teich has addressed his and his party’s position on Kosovo and its relations with Serbia, acknowledging that the demographic reality of Kosovo cannot be ignored.
Teich said that more than 90 percent of Kosovo’s population is Albanian and that this reality must be accepted. At the same time, he stressed that the issue remains complicated because Belgrade continues to regard Kosovo as part of Serbia.
“We are aware of the problems Kosovo is facing. It has been a difficult issue since the conflict began. We want territorial integrity to be respected. If I am not mistaken, more than 90 to 92 percent of Kosovo’s inhabitants are of Albanian origin. This must be acknowledged,” Teich said.
He also pointed out that more than 100 countries have recognized Kosovo and said efforts should be made to find a solution for the future.
However, the German lawmaker avoided taking a definitive position on which side is right in the Kosovo–Serbia dispute.
“As a German citizen, I do not want to say that Serbia is right or that Albania is right, because each side has its own problems, including in domestic politics,” he said.
According to Teich, the way forward should be through dialogue and a solution acceptable to all sides.
“What is important is that there are talks to find a solution that would be acceptable to all countries,” he said.
Teich also spoke positively about the presence of international security forces in Kosovo, describing them as an important factor in maintaining stability.
“I think that in the past, the presence of foreign troops was very positive because they guaranteed security and ensured that the conflict would not escalate or happen again. That is the most important thing,” he said.
He drew a parallel with Bosnia and Herzegovina and suggested that the continued presence of international forces should be considered until a final solution is reached on the Kosovo issue.
The AfD lawmaker also said he hoped further clashes would be avoided, particularly in the border areas between Kosovo and Serbia.
“I hope there will be no more clashes, especially in the border areas between Kosovo and Serbia,” Teich said.
He even expressed willingness to personally contribute to facilitating contacts or negotiations between the two sides.
“If there is something I can do for the negotiations, tell me and I will gladly do it,” Teich said, adding that he could also discuss the matter with his party’s leadership.
Teich’s comments come amid continued debate over the AfD’s position on Kosovo and Serbia, particularly given differing views within the party regarding Kosovo’s status and Germany’s policy toward Belgrade.
