Thaci-Vucciki: Attacked by grenades by families of KSF Serb soldiers, but Kosovo soldiers are peace soldiers

Before representatives of the UN member states, Thaci has said how the president of the Republic of Kosovo and as the Supreme Commander wants to say plainly that the Kosovo Army will bring more peace and stability.

“Transformation of the KSF mission is not a step we have taken as a message against anyone. The Kosovo Army is not and will not be a threat against anyone. The Kosovo Army is and will remain professional and multiethnic. Over 10 percent of soldiers are from non-communist communities. Serbs, Montenegrins, Croats, Turks, Bosniaks, Roma, Egypt, Ashkali, etc. A force which will protect every citizen of Kosovo on the entire territory of Kosovo. Every child, every youth, no matter what language they speak at home”, Thaci said.

My people, because of their bitter past, have always been afraid of military uniforms, just since it was historically foreign and has been a symbol of depression. But, Kosovo soldiers will be peace soldiers, and the Kosovo Army will be contributing to stability in the region”, he has added.

The head of state has said it regrets that some Kosovo Serb citizens, members of the KSF, have been violently forced to resign as a result of systematic pressure exerted on them by the state of Serbia.

The confessions of several soldiers from the Serbian community for the integration they were made by the state of Serbia have been thrilling for me. Their families were attacked. The houses were hit with grenades. And many of them have been kept for hours by Serbia's police when they traveled to Serbia. This is really terrible. I am very sorry for them because I know that the vast majority of them have handed over their uniform with tears in their eyes and broken hearts. But I want to assure you all that we will never back off from our attempt to involve even more all communities in the Kosovo Army. This is an army that will serve all citizens of Kosovo indiscriminately. The only threat to the region are non-nationalist calls for war and conflicts stemming from our northern neighbour”, Thaci has said.

Also, Thaci has assured UN member states that Kosovo will respect all existing international agreements, including the letter NATO Secretary General for co-operation with KFOR.

“We will continue to co-operate closely with NATO. All our work will be co-ordinated with NATO. The founding of the Kosovo Army should never be perceived as an attempt to double the NATO mission in Kosovo. Instead, Kosovo's decision to establish the military is in direct function of building mechanisms which would make our country capable of contributing to local and wider security. Our goal is to shift the paradigm from a country that has been a security consumer and become a contributor to peace and stability. But that in no way interferes with the current NATO mission in Kosovo. On the contrary, the Kosovo Army will only help and complement it. KFOR is still seen as a rescue mission in 20 years. Citizens of my country respect NATO members as heroes. They still give them flowers. And forever, they'll be grateful”, Thaci said.