Speaking at a press conference with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on Tuesday, NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte underscored that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia remains the only path to resolving longstanding issues, while also reaffirming NATO’s dedication to ensuring security through its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

“Only collectively we can bring this region to a lasting peace, you cannot foresee a future if in 40 to50 years we still are stuck in the same problems and that means that it has to be a political solution and that requires the leadership of all politicians

This is crucial, 30 years after 1995 (referring to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina),” Rutte stated.

Rutte visited Kosovo to meet with KFOR personnel, and said that “Our presence today is another concrete demonstration of the Alliance’s commitment to sustainable security in Kosovo and regional stability.”

According to Rutte, normalisation brings more stability and security to the entire region. “Parties need to show flexibility and make the necessary compromises, focusing on long-term benefits,” he added.

Rutte also reiterated that NATO is ready to respond to any security developments. “A safer region means more security for the entire NATO area.”

Meanwhile, President Vjosa Osmani expressed support for Rutte’s statement made the day before in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasising that there should be no security vacuums in the region, because,  “history has shown that such vacuums are often exploited by malign actors.”

Osmani also addressed Serbia, accusing it of undermining efforts for peace and stability.

She pointed to the attacks in northern Kosovo in May 2023 and the Banjska attack in September 2024, which involved violent clashes between armed Serb groups and Kosovo Police/KFOR forces, escalating ethnic tensions and aiming to destabilise the country.

“The presence of NATO troops in Kosovo is not only a guarantee for our security against any attempts to disrupt the peace and stability for which we have all worked and sacrificed so much,” Osmani said.

She added that the lack of accountability for these attacks, which she blamed on Serbia, has encouraged Belgrade “to continue with assaults through its paramilitary structures.”

The NATO chief previously stated that stability in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia is in the interest of all members of the Western military alliance.

The United States has deployed 600 troops in Kosovo as part of KFOR, which in total consists of around 4,600 members.

During his visit to Prishtina, NATO’s Secretary General is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Rutte’s visit to Kosovo comes after his trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 10, where he delivered a message that the alliance will not allow “the peace gained with great difficulty to be jeopardized.”