Serbia is scaring Kosovo Serbs from becoming part of KSF

Republika Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj has reacted to the arrest of Serbian KSF member at the border checkpoint in Koncul, on the part of Serbian authorities.

These arrests, Hoxhaj, called them disturbing and unacceptable, with the tendency to blackmail members of the Serb community from becoming part of the Kosovo Army.

The arrest of Serbian Security Force member Kosovo at the Koncul border crossing and its release is then disturbing and unacceptable, with the tendency to blackmail members of the Serb community in Kosovo and prevent their integration into security institutions. Another evidence that Serbia does not seriously normalise relations with Kosovo, and does not want to allow the integration of Kosovo Serbs into our country's” institutions, Hoxhaj wrote.

No later than last week, top Serbian officials have publicly threatened Kosovo Serbs, that they will be punished if they decide to become part of the Kosovo Army. Also, during yesterday, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, at a regional summit has used language and threatening behaviour towards Kosovo and other countries in the region. While this arrest and release now takes place in order to intimidate other Serb members who are, or consider becoming part of the KSF.

Hoxhaj said Kosovo will protect its citizens and will not allow Serbia to destabilise the country.

Kosovo will protect each of its citizens and allow neither Serbia nor anyone else to jeopardise the internal stability of the state of Kosovo”, Kosovo's deputy prime minister concluded.