NATO seeks to reassure Russia's neighbours fearful of instability
Reuters
Published Nov 30, 2022 01:01AM ET
Updated Nov 30, 2022 07:51AM ET
By John Irish, Luiza Ilie and Sabine Siebold
BUCHAREST (Reuters) -NATO foreign ministers sought on Wednesday to reassure fragile countries in Russia's neighbourhood that they fear could be destabilised by Russia as the conflict in Ukraine drags on, squeezing energy supplies and pushing up prices.
The focus of the second day of a NATO foreign ministers meeting was on the Western Balkans region, in particular Bosnia, and on two former Soviet republics, Moldova and Georgia, both of which have breakaway regions occupied by Russian troops.
"The message is clear: that all NATO allies are aware that the beast also wants to take control of the Western Balkans, and we need - by practical, deliverable support to help these countries to survive," Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told Reuters at the end of a two-day NATO meeting in Bucharest.
"But of course, the centre point of gravity for these nations, for Moldova, for Georgia, is of course (the) outcome of this war. This is of existential importance to their territorial integrity, their right in the future to choose their way of life."
NATO allies on Wednesday pledged to help Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as they face pressure from Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and ministers said.
"If there is one lesson from Ukraine it is that we need to support them now," Stoltenberg told a news conference.
"They are affected from Russian influence in different ways, but better to support them now rather than see developments that go absolutely in the wrong direction as we saw with the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year."
He provided little detail on what shape that support would take.
For Bosnia, he said: "I think to be able to resist attempts of Russian interference and influence, one of the most important things to be done is to complete formation of government after elections."
Bosnia has been going through its worst political crisis since the end of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, with Bosnian Serbs challenging state institutions as part of their longtime bid to secede, emboldened by at least tacit support from Russia.
'RUSSIAN PROXIES'
European leaders worry that these countries on the continent's southern and eastern fringes will lose patience waiting for membership of the European Union and NATO, leaving them open to instability and Russian and Chinese efforts to gain influence.
Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic, invited to join the NATO meeting, said she was concerned about Russia's intentions for her country.
"We have Russian proxies in our government and division in our country is deep," she said.
Moldova, wedged between Ukraine and Romania, last week warned its people to brace for a harsh winter as it was facing an "acute" energy crisis that risked stoking popular discontent.
Get The News You Want
It has also faced an unresolved separatist conflict for 30 years. A contingent of Russian peacekeepers is based in mainly Russian-speaking Transdniestria that borders southwestern Ukraine.
In Georgia, Russian-backed separatists control two breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia to protect the separatists from what it said was a threat from the Geargian government.
Stoltenberg said there were dozens of NATO trainers in Georgia and that allies had made new commitments for further support.
"The stability in western Balkans is important for peace," Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani said. "We need to stop the Russians in the western Balkans, we need more Europe." EU leaders will hold a summit with Western Balkans leaders in Tirana next week.
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.