Russia alarmed by US statements on Kosovo Army

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova has reacted to statements by US Assistant Secretary of State Es Mitchel, who during his stay in Pristina and Belgrade, has talked about the formation of the Kosovo Army, saying no one has veto veto security for Kosovo.

“Establishing the Armed Forces of Kosovo, even more strains the tense situation” has said Zakharova.

She has said the military is an additional destabilising factor in Europe. Otherwise, during his stay in Kosovo and Serbia US Assistant Secretary of State Es Mitchel has said to the troic that no one can veto Kosovo's military by alluding to the Republika Srpska List, which has veto rights because of the double majority that requires voting in Parliament on this issue.

By contrast, senior US official Ees Mitchell confirmed America's support for the establishment of a regular army in Kosovo during his visit to Serbia that strongly opposes the idea.

US Assistant Secretary of State. A. for European Affairs and Eurasian Es Mitchell reaffirmed Washington's support for the establishment of a Kosovo Army after a meeting with Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vucic, on Wednesday.

“No one can veto Kosovo's right to develop its [Turkish] forces,”, Mitchell said at a joint press conference with Vucic, adding that the issue requires the Kosovo Constitution to be changed.

However, Vucic insisted that there is no legal basis for Kosovo to form an army, adding that the only reason this is allowed is because the US recognises its independence, which Serbia does not do.

“I ask everyone from the United States or the EU to show me a document that allows Kosovo to create its own armed forces. There is no”, Vucic said.

The Serbian president also said he doubted that Kosovo would act on its pledge to form an Autonomous Association of Serb majority municipalities, despite Mitchell's calls for its formation.

I'm almost convinced that nothing will come from business. If they wanted to do this, they would have done it in the last five years,” he said.

Mitchell also said Belgrade and Pristina must meet the obligations stemming from their EU-contacted negotiations in Brussels.