KFOR rejected Kosovo demand for sending KSF to north

Mission NATO in Kosovo, KFOR, confirmed to Radio Free Europe that Kosovo institutions, following the explosion in the Iber-Lepenci Canal at Zubin Potok municipality in the north on November 29th, had asked for authorisation by KFOR commander for possible sending the Kosovo Security Force (FSK) to the affected area.

KFOR's “Commander has not issued such authorization, given its security assessment and actions already undertaken by KFOR”, KFOR said in a written response to Radio Free Europe.

Kosovo made that request in line with the 2013 agreement signed between Kosovo institutions and NATO, under which then Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci assured him NATO will not go north without KFOR's preliminary consent.

“Sic has been communicated in our statement yesterday, KFOR has established units to secure the damaged water channel area in Zubin Potok. KFOR has also offered additional assistance to institutions in Kosovo, including logistical support and the annihilation of” explosive means, KFOR said in its response.

The mission added that KFOR commander remains in contact with all of his key partners and that he is keeping the situation under surveillance. Kosovo blames Serbia for staying behind the explosion in the north, the charge Serbia denies.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, on Sunday evening during a press conference, did not answer the question of whether he had asked KFOR permission to send him The KSF in the north, but said that “we are limited to the north because our army, based on the 2013 agreement, cannot go north. ”

Therefore, the situation there is not the same as in other parts of our country. ”

Kurti added that, even though he does not like the pledge given to the KSF in the north, he will respect it.

“Would it be better and safer to be the Kosovo Army? Yes, it would be. But it's not there, and we respect that pledge Thaci has made”, Kurti said.

Earlier this day, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq said Kurti made this request NATO.

The explosion of the canal in the village of Zubin Potok caused no casualties, but created a large breach on its side wall, causing water flows outside the canal, causing some parts of the country to face water reductions.

From the Iber-Lepenci hydro-system in Gazivoda (Zubin Potok) is supplied with water across Kosovo's north, Mitrovica regions, as well as Pristina with the suburbs, including the Kosovo Energy Corporation for cooling its thermoelectrics. /REL