“Ongoing Crises in the Balkans and the Turkish Response” Dr. Sabine Freizer, Europe Program Director at the International Crisis Group, assessed the recent developments in the Balkans.

ANKARA – The Balkans, where the tension recently raised upon several developments, were addressed during a roundtable meeting held at TEPAV on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. In the meeting, Dr. Sabine Freizer, Europe Program Director at the International Crisis Group (ICG), assessed the ongoing crises in the region and the Turkish response.

The meeting, moderated by Erhan Türbedar, Foreign Policy Analyst at TEPAV, hosted Freizer as the keynote speaker. Touching upon the latest tension between Kosovo and Serbia, Freizer stressed that the tension between the two parties had flared due to the clashes that had taken place during the operations by Kosovo on the Serbian-populated northern border. Stating that the European Union (EU) mission EULEX had taken over the border control after the clashes, during which a Kosovan police officer had been killed, she maintained that Serbia did not want to recognize any Kosovan institution and that it sought to take control of power in the northern region of Kosovo, though the country was recognized. The Serbian minority living in northern Kosovo also faced difficulties and had isolated themselves from both Kosovo and Serbia. The participation of the EU, the US and Turkey was necessary and the EU would play an important role in the solution of the problems via steps for Serbia’s membership process and visa advantages for Kosovo.

Commenting on Turkey-EU relations, she recommended that Turkey work more frequently and closely with the Union.

The meeting ended after a discussion section, in which the audience participated.