The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gërvalla, stated that countries like Serbia should not be part of NATO or the European Union.
This is because, according to Gërvalla, Serbia would use European Union funds to buy Russian weapons and support Russian ambitions in Europe.
As for Kosovo, the minister expressed that its people should decide whether to join NATO and the EU, not its neighbors.
“Kosovo is the smallest country, the newest European democracy somewhere in the Western Balkans, but it is a place where many geopolitical influences show their impact in very significant moments like we have now in Europe,” Gërvalla told CBC Canada.
“So, in Kosovo, we are not only aiming to join the European Union, but having the youngest population in Europe, having the most pro-European and pro-NATO people in Europe. I should emphasize that more than 93 percent of people in Kosovo support membership in NATO and the European Union.”
“And I really believe it is up to the people in a country to decide their future, not for the neighborhood to decide when this country can join NATO or not.”
“We have the case with Kosovo, Serbia supported by Russia in fighting our ambitions to join the European Union and NATO. And so, I really believe that the European perspective, the NATO perspective, supports these ambitions of all countries that want.”
“NATO and the European Union should open doors to those countries that aim and are fighting for the same values, the same principles as NATO and EU countries. I know there should be no place for countries like Serbia that want to have European Union funds to buy Russian weapons and support Russian ambitions in Europe. But for all others ready to do their homework, it’s high time to move forward.”