Congressman Torres: Serbia is a satellite of Russia and imports weapons from Russia, Putin is the most valuable personality in Serbia

US Congressman Ritchie Torres has declared that the USA has no greater ally in the Balkans than Kosovo. At the same time, he said that Serbia stands for the opposite of what Kosovo represents and will not escape Russian influence. Speaking about Russian influence in Serbia, he said that Vladimir Putin is the most popular figure in Serbia, writes The Geopost.

“There may be some politicians who say that Serbia, but I am skeptical, can escape Russian influence, but that cannot be true,” he said.

Torres also spoke about Russia’s tendency to exert its influence in the Balkan region through Serbia.

“President Joe Biden has talked about democracy and the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are part of that policy.” Kosovo is a democracy, a democratic story in the Western Balkans, while Serbia is an autocratic country, while Kosovo is an ally of the US. Kosovo was the first country to take in refugees, while Serbia is a satellite of Russia and has not imposed sanctions on the country, but on the contrary has imported weapons from Russia. “Russian President Vladimir Putin is the most valuable personality in Serbia,” he told Radio Kosovo.

The American congressman also spoke about the European Union’s approach to Kosovo and Serbia. According to him, the EU should behave more respectfully towards its ally Kosovo.

He stressed that Serbia wanted to destabilize Kosovo with attacks like the one in Banjska on 24 September, in which police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed.

“The European Union has been tougher on Kosovo than on Serbia. While Kosovo is aligned with the EU, Serbia is closer to Russia. The EU’s behavior is a different story and I can’t explain it. But Kosovo should be treated with more respect because it is a better ally. “Serbia has shown that it is interfering in Kosovo’s internal affairs by cooperating with people whose goal is to destabilize Kosovo,” Torres said.

Torres said that while Kosovo is allied with the EU, Serbia is allied with Russia.

He said that the United States is in favor of a free world and that it sees the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia with this approach.

“I truly believe that the U.S. is the leader of the free world and is playing an active role in the dialog between Serbia and Kosovo.” Dialogue is critical and must continue and be led by the U.S.”

The American congressman said that Kosovo should join international organizations.

Kosovo, he said, must first be recognized as a state and included in European institutions, such as membership in the EU, the UN and INTERPOL, as well as other international organizations.

“Kosovo is a sovereign country and should be treated as such,” he emphasized.

/ The Geopost