James Clapper: ethnic and political divisions, the greatest danger for the Western Balkans

Clapper - To implement the agreements reached between Kosovo and Serbia with the mediation of the European Union


In Albania, according to the report, government institutions suffer from corruption and undue political influence over them. In the months preceding the parliamentary elections of June, there is concern back in fierce partisan conflict that erupted after the 2009 parliamentary elections, when the opposition contested the elections and occasionally boycotted parliament for nearly 2 years.


Internal political and ethnic divisions, will pose the greatest risk to Western Balkans in 2013. This is the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies, according to the annual report that they submit to the Congress. The report was presented yesterday by the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, during a seance on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Issues.

According to the intelligence agencies, the states of the region's poor suffer from economic stagnation, high unemployment, corruption and a weak legal state. Although the security situation in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serb majority, has improved since 2011, and he's diplomatic engagement in the security of the West, it is necessary to implement the agreements reached with the mediation of the European Union.

The report states that by increasing the efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, there is also increased risk of violence in northern Kosovo Serb extremist groups. Relatively new government of Serbia faces numerous obstacles on its way towards meeting obligations to start accession negotiations with the European Union, among which is finding a solution between constitutional claim over Kosovo and the fact that Kosovo is independent.

Supervision of independence ended, says the report, and the Kosovo government will aim to expand the instruments of sovereignty over all its territory.

In Albania, according to the report, government institutions suffer from corruption and undue political influence over them. In the months preceding the parliamentary elections of June, there is concern back in fierce partisan conflict that erupted after the 2009 parliamentary elections, when the opposition contested the elections and occasionally boycotted parliament for nearly 2 years.

In Macedonia, the report does not provide a return to civil war a decade ago, but provides further deepening disputes between the Macedonian and Albanian communities.

Director of National Intelligence testified in Congress yesterday along with the new director of the CIA, John Brennan and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

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