KFOR declines Serbian request to deploy soldiers ahead of Christmas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jan 20:09

NATO-led Kosovo Force denies Serbia request to deploy soldiers to religious sites in Kosovo on the eve of Orthodox Christmas.

US troops part of a KFOR patrol, near Jarinje border crossing in Kosovo, August 18, 2022 (Reuters)

Following a series of clashes between Serbs and Kosovo authorities, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has denied a Serbian government request to deploy up to 1,000 Serbian soldiers and police personnel to Kosovo.

Vucic chastised KFOR for notifying Serbia of its decision on the night of Christian Orthodox Christmas, after the Kosovo police apprehended an off-duty soldier accused of shooting and injuring two young Serbs near Shterpce.

Earlier in December, Serbia sent the KFOR mission command a formal request for authorization to deploy Serbian military and police in Kosovo, despite the likeliness of being rejected.

At the time, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that "in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, we will send a request to the KFOR commander to arrange for the deployment of the Serbian army and police contingent in Kosovo and Metohija."

According to a UN Security Council resolution, Serbia may be authorized to deploy its personnel at border crossings, Orthodox Christian religious sites, and districts with Serb majority provided KFOR approves.

Furthermore, Vucic added "Of course, I have no illusions, and I know that they will deny this request. And I'm telling you that in advance," and noting that it was still necessary to try.

NATO removes last barricades in Serbian-majority Northern Kosovo

On December 10, Serbs in the north of Kosovo began setting up barricades in protest against the arrest of several Serb police officers by the Kosovar authorities over accusations of war crimes and terrorism dating back to the 1998-1999 conflict.

On December 11, Vucic held a national security council meeting and accused Kosovo of violating existing agreements after Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti urged the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force to dismantle road barricades erected by Serbs in Kosovo.

Kosovo warned that if the NATO-led mission refused to step in, its security forces would carry out the operation themselves.

Bilateral tensions have been running high since last month when ethnic Serbs in the north of Kosovo quit their jobs in state institutions, including the police and judiciary, over the Kosovo government's decision to replace Serbian-issued car license plates.

On January 5, the last barricades placed by Serbs to protest the police arrests in the region's north were removed to reinstate freedom of movement, the NATO-led mission in Kosovo.

"The dismantling of the final roadblocks was conducted in a quick, safe, and secure way, to avoid incidents and other risks for local security," the US-led military alliance announced.

The removal of the barricades followed allies and the European Union's efforts to lessen tensions in the region, NATO said.