Garčević Comments on Deteriorating Political and Security Situation in Western Balkans
Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, was featured in Montenegrin daily Vijesti (The News), Slovenian Daily Delo (The Work), and Radio Free Europe where he addressed the deterioration of the political and security situation in the Western Balkans, particularly Montenegro and Kosovo, and the Russian influence in the region.
In discussing the European Union‘s (EU) role in the Western Balkans, Garčević argues that the EU has reacted tepidly and is lagging behind the events in Montenegro in its attempts to address the country’s vulnerability to pro-Russian hybrid influence through local political allies. The visit of EU officials to Montenegro should have happened earlier. This reviving interest of Brussels in the region in the last few months is the consequence of the aggression against Ukraine.
According to Garčević, the EU’s response speaks more about Brussels’ concern that instability in Ukraine may spill over to the Balkans than the Union’s genuine intention to reinvigorate EU integration of the region. he believes that the current situation in Montenegro confirms that politics in the country is more personal than ever and that the feeling for the public good and national interests are completely in the background.
The full articles can be read on Vijesti, Delo, and Radio Free Europe‘s website.
During his diplomatic career, Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He had been Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about Ambassador Garčević on his faculty profile.