Serbia takes steps to deploy security forces in Kosovo

After the cabinet meeting in the capital Belgrade, Serbian President Vucic made statements to Serbian Radio and Television about the tensions with Kosovo in recent days.

Vucic, speaking about rising tensions after Kosovo Serbs who reacted to the arrest of former Serbian police officer Dejan Pantic, set up a barricade at border crossings in northern Kosovo on December 10, said: Army and police in the northern Kosovo was unanimous in the cabinet. We will make a request via email tonight and tomorrow in person to the KFOR commander.” he said.

Expressing that he believes the decision will ease tension, Vucic said: “I think it is important for the protection of Kosovar Serbs and the control of border crossings. However, after what we hear, we do not believe the application will be accepted.” he said.

Emphasizing that Kosovo’s membership in the United Nations (UN) is not acceptable to them, Vucic said: “We can talk about anything else.” he performed the assessment of it.

“SERBIA HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND KFOR”

US Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill said: “The Serbian government, of course, has the right to apply to KFOR, but the current political problem requires a political solution. We need to calm the situation. So the Serb community living there can have clear expectations for their future life.” he said he.

Noting that peace in the region will be achieved with the establishment of the Union of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), Hill said, “The establishment of the ZSO can bring the situation back to normal.” he used his statements.

Meanwhile, the US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, who visited Serbia yesterday, said his country opposes the deployment of Serbian security forces in Kosovo.

SWEEPERS IN NORTH KOSOVO ON DAY 6

The two countries clashed again ahead of early general elections scheduled for December 18 in 4 municipalities in northern Kosovo, where the Serb population is densely populated.

The fact that Kosovo increased the presence of security forces in the densely populated Serb regions in the north of the country to ensure security in the region before the elections caused mutual tension between the two countries.

Following the events in the north, Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani announced that early local elections were postponed until April 2023, but this decision did not reduce tension in the region.

Following the arrest of former Serb policeman Dejan Pantic, tensions between the two countries increased considerably, and the Kosovar Serbs, reacting to this, have been standing guard at the Jarinje and Bernjak border crossings for 6 days since 10 December.

The European Union (EU), NATO and the United States call for the de-escalation and removal of the barricades in northern Kosovo.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, as its territory.

Serbia and Kosovo, which regularly clash, are trying to find a common path towards normalizing relations and, ultimately, getting the two countries to know each other, within the framework of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process launched in 2011 under EU mediation. (AA)