Security in the region/ KFOR commander "head to head" meeting with the chief of the Serbian army

2024-05-29 19:36:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Security in the region/ KFOR commander "head to head" meeting with the

The commander of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, Ozkan Utulash, met on Wednesday with the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia, Milan Mojsillovic, in Kopaonik, Serbia, to discuss the regional security situation.

In a press release, the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo said that this meeting was part of Utulash's regular interactions with its military counterparts.

"Major General Utulash and General Mojsillovic shared their views on the general security situation and its impact on regional stability, as well as on cooperative activities, including synchronized patrols along the administrative border line," KFOR said in the announcement.

The Ministry of Defense of Serbia said that the meeting was held at the invitation of Mojsillovic and that it discussed the current security situation in Kosovo and the cooperation so far.

"The Chief of the General Staff has asked the commander of KFOR that the international forces act in a professional and impartial manner and quickly prevent any attempt to endanger the Serbian population," the announcement of the Serbian Ministry states.

The security situation in the north of Kosovo remains tense since May 29 of last year, when dozens of KFOR members were injured during clashes in Serb protests against Albanian mayors in the four municipalities there.

Precisely on the first anniversary of the violence in Zveçan, KFOR has requested that those involved in the attacks on the members of this mission be brought to justice. Tensions culminated on September 24, when an armed group of Serbs attacked the Kosovo police in the village of Banjské, near Zveçan, killing policeman Afrim Bunjaku.

Since then, the Kosovar authorities have accused Serbia several times of sending the army near the Kosovar border.

Kosovo and Serbia share a border line that is about 400 kilometers long.

March of this year was the last time that Kosovo claimed that Serbia had sent military units near the border, but these claims made by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, were rejected by the Serbian authorities.

Kosovo blamed Serbia for the attack in Banjska, but Belgrade denied responsibility. It was received by the former vice-president of the Serbian List, Millan Radoicic. He and other members of that armed group are believed to be in Serbia.

After the Banjska incident, KFOR has increased its military presence in Kosovo and now has around 4,700 soldiers.

KFOR is the third security responder in Kosovo, after the Kosovo Police which is the first and after the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, with which it says it cooperates closely./ Rel