NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has reiterated the Alliance’s commitment to stability in the Western Balkans, specifically mentioning Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At a press conference held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Rutte was asked by a journalist about the lack of mention of the region in the summit’s final statement.
He emphasized that NATO’s engagement in the Balkans continues, highlighting the role of peacekeeping troops in Kosovo and Bosnia.
“NATO continues to be focused on the region through the presence of KFOR in Kosovo and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Rutte said.
He announced that he has personally visited the region and met with local leaders, both in Kosovo and Bosnia, to deepen cooperation.
“We are very involved as NATO, while the European Union also has a strong commitment. We coordinate closely with Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen,” said the NATO Secretary General.
Concluding his response, Rutte said that the situation in the region has not changed in such a way as to require international attention: “We continue to be there, nothing has changed.”/Telegraph/