Kapetanovic: Global Conflicts Impact Western Balkan Security

Amer Kapetanovic (BETAPHOTO/RCC/Ognen Acevski)

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic said in Tirana on Nov. 10 that global conflicts have a great impact on security in the Western Balkan region.

Kapetanovic said that, according to some statistics, there have never been as many conflicts in the world, "15 or 16 of which are open wars," and that in such circumstances it makes sense "that there is a whole series of various threats." "Energy shocks, the energy crisis, all of it is having an effect on inflation, prices, and consequently security. The same goes for hybrid threats. According to some statistics, we have never had this many conflicts in the world, 15 or 16 of which are open wars. In such circumstances, it makes sense that you will have a whole set of various threats - hybrid threats, cyber threats, threats to critical infrastructure," Kapetanovic told BETA.

He went on to say that there is a decline in water in most cities of the region, that river levels are at record lows and that hydroelectric power plants are having trouble producing enough power. "When you put all that in a broader context, it is all the consequence of what is happening, and of course it is having great effects on each of the Western Balkans' economies. No one can solve it on their own. Rivers cross borders, power distribution systems are connected, cyber attacks are happening in the virtual space which also cannot be contained by borders. What does that tell us? We must work together," he said.

Asked if he expected better regional cooperation from the new Serbian government, Kapetanovic said the RCC had good cooperation with the previous government and hoped that will continue. "We had very good cooperation with the previous government in Serbia. We always had support. I hope that support will continue. I don't want to prejudge because the institutions of government in Serbia are yet to be formed," Kapetanovic told BETA.