Serbia's “Armatos direct threat to Kosovo, KFOR's crucial role in security”

The executive director of the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (QKSS), Mentor Vrajolli, said Serbia's arming should be seen as a serious threat to Kosovo, stressing the importance of KFOR's role in Kosovo security.

In an interview for EO, Vrajolli said Serbia argues arming it as a neutral state, but in reality the main goal is the impact on Kosovo, which has not yet progressed in Euro-Atlantic integration.

Serbia, in some form, argues this arming by the fact that as a neutral state and usually neutral states aim to have all of their capacities, because in their doctrine they do not expect mutual support or solidarity, which is different in NATO states, because NATO states are largely built to extend their synergies and support to each other. However, Serbia's goal is not necessarily to be neutral, especially in relation to Kosovo for not recognising Kosovo. Then we should remember that Serbia's arming is a direct threat to Kosovo, especially the fact that Kosovo has not yet opened the door to progress in Euro-Atlantic integrations. Then we should remember that this poses a serious threat to us”, Vrajolli said.

He expresses the view that some of the weapons may also be oriented for internal consumption and the power attitude towards civic protests, assessing that Serbia's domestic policy could affect this strengthening of capacities.

But on the other hand maybe these armings are for domestic consumption as well as domestic policies. Clearly, pressure on the government of Serbia is growing, and perhaps one of the logics that may have influenced this is that by strengthening security institutions democratic change may never be implemented. It seems obviously that power is resisting those massive protests and are not willing to surrender to these developments, so I think in part this weapon can be against the citizens of Serbia”.

Vrajolli warned the danger of terrorist groups in the region, citing the attack on Banjska, where some participants are still at large on Serbia's territory and can return for actions in Kosovo, even with reinforcements from individuals with ultranationalist conviction.

The danger is extremely large, this was seen with the terrorist attack on Banjska. Those who have been part of the attack on Banjska are still at large on Serbian territory with every opportunity for them to be reshuffled into Kosovo territory, perhaps even with reinforcements through mobilization of individuals with ultranationalist conviction who could join these people. So the danger may be even greater than it was with the terrorist attack on Banjska. However, what we expect as a society is that there is a NATO military mission in Kosovo, which has been present in Kosovo since June 1999, with concrete mission, which is preventing any armed structures to be introduced by Serbia on Kosovo territory”, he said.

Vrajolli noted the importance of KFOR's performance and expressed concerns for specific contingents in the northern part, which, according to him, may not be fully co-ordinated with NATO command.

He estimated that Kosovo institutions should be active to monitor the situation and ensure the presence of forces in key countries.

Therefore, Kosovo's security in general depends extremely much on KFOR's performance in Kosovo, perhaps KFOR's failure is an open threat to security in the country, and KFOR's failure will not be possible due to neglect, because I think that KFOR is already extremely aware of the risks the situation contains. The fear that could be in this case is that any of KFOR's contingents in the northern part of NATO are not portable to NATO's common command, for the fact that NATO shares have been spread from several NATO member states, especially in the case of Hungary or Slovakia. Perhaps fear of failure to perform the right task with a certain tendency should not be disfellowshipped. I think Kosovo institutions should be extremely active to pressure KFOR for these contingents not to be in the northern part or at least to have an additional look at these contingents, because security is something that is hard to believe these states do not commit any act. As a society, let's not leave our security to fate, he said.

Vrajolli also cited the state of local security institutions, saying that Kosovo Police and Security Force are operating normally, though rule of law must be secured by all state institutions.

He estimated that the situation in the northern part of Kosovo has improved markedly, where legitimate organs now operate without being threatened by criminal groups that once acted there.

In terms of security institutions, I think they're working, despite the fact that we have a crisis. Police and KSF are both operating. What is problematic is that rule of law is not implemented solely by institutions of rule of law. Rule of law is the task of all institutions. Perhaps we should bear in mind that police are used only for emergency issues, but once that emergency situation is passed, efforts should be of other institutions, offering their services. In the northern part, there is a change of situation on the ground. I think the security situation there is extremely better than it was before, despite the fact that maybe citizens there are more unhappy with the current situation now. But this can also be the result that changes have been extremely rapid. Government communication for these citizens to be informed that these changes are for their own good, and these two challenges are being clashed with each other. What we have to do is to create institutions as soon as possible and start sending appropriate messages to the community that the Kosovo government is of all Kosovo citizens. The situation in the northern part of Kosovo has improved markedly because it already has law enforcement organs, legitimate organs, which have accountability and their offices will not be hit with bombs or burned because they did not obey a gang that has operated on the northern side of”, Vrajolli told EO./Periscopi/