Retired U.S. General Wesley Clark expressed confidence that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will make the right decisions for the Western Balkans. In an interview with ABC News, Clark also stated that Serbia should recognize Kosovo.

Clark mentioned that he is in the region to observe its economic development, noting that Albania has been successful in advancing its economy, while Kosovo “can do more” in this regard. He emphasized that Trump will make the right decisions concerning the countries of the Western Balkans.

Clark, who led NATO forces during the 1999 bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, said he is proud of that operation, which led to peace in Kosovo.

“I am very happy that we were able to bring peace and democracy to Kosovo. Alongside us, there was a large group of people involved in this operation, a big operational group, because we saw that a great crime and injustice were being committed, inhumane treatment. We wanted that to stop, so that people in the region could have peace and security,” said Clark.

He added that Serbia needs to accept Kosovo and move forward by acknowledging this reality.

“I don’t like seeing tensions. Serbia must recognize the facts, and the facts are that there were crimes and murders in Kosovo during Milosevic’s regime. Ethnic cleansing occurred in both Bosnia and Kosovo, people were killed, and they cannot simply return and live in peace with each other. Serbia must accept Kosovo and the Albanian people, accept the future without Kosovo. Stop the attacks, the past is over,” Clark concluded.