Central European Ministers Highlight Importance of Western Balkans for Continent’s Security

The crisis in northern Kosovo (BetaPhoto/Sasa Djordjevic)

The defense ministers of the Central European Defense Cooperation (CEDC) group met in Prague, on Dec. 8, with the defense ministers of the Western Balkans, warning after the conference that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East must not overshadow the region and its importance for the security of Europe and also supported the region’s accession to the European Union.

“Relations between Belgrade and Pristina are key to the entire region of the Western Balkans. Russia, but other actors as well, have been very active in the region, where they are acting against our interests. We need to seek ways to strengthen cooperation with our partners in the region. Our goal must be to offer them a more attractive option,” Czech Defense Minister Jana Chernochova said after the two-day conference.

During last year's Czech presidency the CEDC group, which is made up of the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Poland as an observer, concentrated on strengthening practical cooperation between Western Balkan experts.

“The dozens of KFOR soldiers injured during the riots in Kosovo last May show that the stability of the region is indeed fragile. It is necessary therefore to monitor developments very carefully,” minister Chernochova said at the conference.