Vučić: KFOR rejected Serbian request to send forces to Kosovo

The NATO-led international force responsible for ensuring stability in Kosovo has rejected Belgrade’s request to send Serbian security forces to Kosovo and Metohija, President Aleksandar Vucic said on TV Pink.

“In their carefully crafted letter addressed to the Government of Serbia, which I also received, they replied that they did not consider it necessary to return the Serbian army to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, referring to resolution 1244,” transmits Vučić’s words edition “Evening News”.

Aggravation of the situation in the north of Kosovo occurred on December 10, when the Pristina authorities detained an ethnic Serb, a former policeman Dejan Pantic. He was suspected of attacking the election commission. In response to the actions of Pristina, the Serbian population began to erect barricades, blocking the passage along the highway in several settlements near the Yarine checkpoint, and went out to protest.

The EU mission in Kosovo (EULEX), as well as KFOR employees, were pulled to the barricades. The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, demanded that the Kosovo Serbs “immediately remove the barricades.” Due to the aggravation of the situation in the region, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić convened an emergency meeting of the country’s Security Council in response to threats from Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to dismantle the barricades on his own. The latter also urged to strengthen the presence of NATO troops in the republic, which, according to him, will increase security in the region. The prime minister also announced an increase in defense spending and the number of conscripts.

On December 26, Vucic ordered the Serbian armed forces to be brought to the highest degree of combat readiness, but already on December 29 he canceled this decision, and on the same day the barricades began to be dismantled. On December 30, the Serbian president said that the escalation of the conflict had been avoided. After that, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the compromise between Serbia and Kosovo “can hardly be called sustainable.”

January 4 Vučić promised to increase the number of special forces of the army of Serbia to 5000 people. According to him, it was “barely” possible to maintain peace and stability in relations with Kosovo, he added that “difficult tests” lie ahead.