6 minutes agoAP: Serbia's effort to send troops to Kosovo implies conflict with NATO
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Serbia on Saturday condemned NATO peacekeepers stationed in neighbouring Kosovo for their failure to stop <x0 federal activities” that it claims to have made Kosovo police against ethnic Serbs and said its armed forces stationed near the border will remain in the highest state of readiness [...]
Serbia's top political and security leader, led by President Aleksandar Vuciq, met in Belgrade on Saturday after the clashes between police and Serbs the previous day, from which several persons and policemen were left injured.
In response to them, Vuciq ordered troops Friday to approach the border with Kosovo.
“due to the use of brutal force by Albin Kurti and his forces against Serbs in Kosovo ... Serbia's armed forces will remain at the high level of combat readiness”, a statement said after the gathering of Serb leaders.
The statement also said that an international civilian mission and NATO-led troops stationed in Kosovo, “have not done their job” for the protection of Serbs.
Serbs in northern Kosovo have attempted to block new mayors from entering municipal facilities Friday. The elections held last month were boycotted by Serbs.
Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse crowds of people trying to prevent. Several cars were burned. Five cops got hurt.
This is not the first time Vuciqi has warned that Belgrade would respond to the violence he claims to be to Kosovo Serbs, and that it has sometimes established combat readiness. However, any attempt by Serbia to send troops across the border would mean confrontation with NATO troops stationed there. / EO
