Kosovo government backs air space closure for Russian planes

“We are very interested in doing this”, the Kosovo Government's spokesman, Kryeziu, said on Friday, adding that the Government is in co-ordination with NATO for future decisions and steps.

However, an official of NATO has told Radio Free Europe on Thursday that Kosovo's airspace remains open.

KFOR's “Command has primary authority to use low air space over Kosovo, according to UN Security Council Resolution 1244. KFOR remains fully focused on the daily implementation of its UN mandate to ensure a safe environment and freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo. Such a closure would have no operational impact. KFOR remains fully focused on the daily implementation of its mandate under the UN”, this NATO official has said.

After the launch of the Russian occupation in Ukraine, the European Union has imposed several economic sanctions against Russia on February 27th, including the closure of airspace for Russian aircraft.

On Wednesday, March 2nd, the same has been decided by the United States.

Albania and Northern Macedonia have made the same decision, and on Friday, Montenegro.

Against such a decision are Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kosovo's low air space is managed by the Kosovo Air Navigation Services Agency, which provides services to civil aircraft during Kosovo airspace with the aim of landing and standing up from Pristina Airport.

While high air space from 6,250 to higher, open to commercial traffic from 2014, it is under Hungary's control, respectively, of HungariansControl, which offers the technical traffic control services at this height.

That is because Kosovo has not yet achieved capacity to manage high air space.

Awareers of security issues in Kosovo have called on the Government of Kosovo to call on NATO to close the airspace for Russian planes.