For the second time in the past twelve months, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced concerns about the long-term stability of the Western Balkans. Her first claim, made in November 2014, referred to Russia’s potential neo-imperial appetite in the region following the annexation of Crimea and continuing war in Ukraine (Mapo.al, November 19, 2014). She expressed a second warning recently, while speaking to her party’s members, on November 3, indicating that the current European refugee crisis could rekindle tensions between the Balkan region’s governments and lead to potential armed conflicts if Germany closes its borders (Shqiptaria.com, November 3). Though her …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation