Belgrade doesn't want to see Serb members at KSF

The top political representatives in Belgrade have stated that they would not want to see members of the Serb community part of the KSF, especially now, when this force is increasing its capacities and taking “road” transformation towards the creation of the future Kosovo Army.

Officials at the Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force say pressures and threats are continuing and not only to members of the Serb community, but also to other communities.

The latest case, which was assessed by police at the general risk, occurred over the weekend at the Bosniaks' Lagen in northern Mitrovica.

According to representatives of the KSF Ministry, in the courtyard of the home of a member of the Kosovo Security Force from the ranks of the Turkish community, an explosive vehicle had been deployed but had no consequences, as the vehicle was deactivated.

Ibrahim Shala, director of the Department for Public Relations at the KSF Ministry, told Radio Europe that these threats are continuing and are unacceptable.

It is true that members of minority communities, especially the Serb community, but other communities continue to have pressure from circles outside Kosovo to leave the Kosovo Security Force. The latest case in Bosniaks' Lagen, where KSF member has been placed in an explosive device in his yard”, Shala said.

He also said that pressure on KSF members so far has developed into different political and psychological forms, but they have now gone through with tools that endanger people's lives.

The “has been put into very concrete pressures that endanger the lives of our members and their families, which means switching to works that endanger”, Shala said.

On the other hand, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, has said Tuesday that Kosovo authorities intend on November 28th to mark the Day of the Flag of Albanians with the formation of the Kosovo Army.

That, according to him, is contrary to the spirit of all agreements -- the UN Resolution -- of the Kumanovo Agreement with NATO and the Brussels Agreement. He has today called on members of the Serb community in Kosovo not to become part of this army.

I once again urge Kosovo Serbs not to become part of it. I call on Kosovo Serbs openly and publicly not to participate in the formation of the Kosovo Army, because that army is forming it, for nothing else, but only for those Serbs to use one day to shoot at other Serbs. I urge Serbs to in no way help them in that dirty job, with which they even violate their Constitution, which has no meaning for us and which we do not accept”, Vuciq said.

While connoisseur of military and security issues, former Kosovo Security Forces Commander Kadri Kastrati told Radio Free Europe that such threats are viewed as a threat to peace and a threat to progress in resolving the problem between Kosovo and Serbia.

Kastrati: KSF takes seven more years to become an army

The” is a serious threat to KSF members and their families, who have been constantly not only now, but also in the past. There are two cases north where two bombs were dropped on their families in the backyard. Then we have numerous arrests when they go to visit their families in Serbia, where they are questioned by members of the secret service in information talks, tremendous pressures, but also threats of murder personally to KSF members”, Kastrati said.

He says such actions postponed by Serbia are absolutely unacceptable, as those who are members of the Security Force are citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and their lives see it in Kosovo rather than elsewhere.

This is extremely bad. We as Albanians, but other non-Serb communities have also seen these threats poorly. We are sorry that this is happening, but no matter what we do, we have some news and some information from the ground that many other Serb youths want to be part of this Force and the army will move forward regardless of”, Kastrati said.

The Kosovo Security Force is seeking the completion of the seats left empty by members of the Serb community, who had abandoned its ranks for the past two months.

The process of transforming the Kosovo Security Forces so far has remained blocked due to the lack of support from Serb deputies in the Kosovo Assembly.

The three bills adopted in principle by the Kosovo Assembly for transition of the Kosovo Security Force are expected to undergo public hearing and revision, before heading to the Assembly for final approval.

Public hearings are expected to be organised in Prizren and Gracanica. It's the Defence Ministry Bill, the Kosovo Security Force and the Ministerial Bill on the Kosovo Security Force.