Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Serbia ready to send troops to Kosovo if request to KOFR approved: MoD

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Dec 2022 18:11
  • 35 Shares
4 Min Read

Serbian defense minister says that his country is ready to deploy soldiers in Kosovo if the request sent to the NATO-led Kosovo Forces is approved.

  • x
  • Local Serbs walk on the road by a barricade near the village of Rudare, north of Serb-dominated part of Mitrovica, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022 (AP Photo/Marjan Vucetic)
    Local Serbs walk on the road by a barricade near the village of Rudare, north of Serb-dominated part of Mitrovica, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022 (AP Photo/Marjan Vucetic)

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic stated on Monday that his country's armed forces are prepared to deploy soldiers to Kosovo and Metohija in case the request made to the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) is approved.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday that the country will formally send a request on December 15 to the KFOR for approval to send Serbian military and police forces to Kosovo, however, this request will probably be dismissed.

"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," Vucic said while addressing the nation and reading out the relevant paragraph of the Security Council resolution.

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

Read more: Russia condemns declaring Russian employee in Kosovo persona non grata

On Sunday, the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti urged the KFOR to intervene in lifting barricades from roads that were set up by local Serbs in several locations leading to the border crossing points of Bërnjak and Jarinje in the North of Kosovo.  

"Serbia is ready to send troops, hopefully, the government will discuss it this week. We are talking about a paragraph of UN Security Council resolution 1244 and a military-technical agreement; given the situation on the ground, its application is requested. Because it is obvious that there are not enough security forces in Kosovo and Metohija to ensure the security of Serbs," Vucevic told Serbian news outlet TV Pink.

In short: Explainer: The Kosovo-Serbia tensions

Serbia's defense minister said that Belgrade is acting within its rights to request for troop deployment under the UN Security Council resolution.

Germany's top diplomat Annalena Baerbock earlier labeled Serbia's proposal [to send troops to Kosovo] as "completely acceptable".

Related News

Russia ends self-imposed ban on INF-class missile deployments

UK, NATO plotting sabotage of Russian oil tankers, says SVR

Vucevic condemned her statement and said that the German Foreign Minister, "answered for the KFOR commander, who cannot answer since he has not yet received [the request from Belgrade]. There will be a government meeting on Thursday, then he will receive it," noting that Baerbock's comments came at the same time that Kosovo's PM refused to establish an "association of Serb Municipalities" in Kosovo while the Kosovo and Albanian police have been conducting strong actions north of Kosovo and in Metohija.

Read more: As EU isolates Russia, Serbia embraces old ally

On September 10, Vuvic expressed his concerns over the flow of weapons, technology, and equipment supplied by the United States to Kosovo and other Balkan countries.

On Saturday, Serbs in Kosovo's northern part blocked roads using barricades to protest the arrest of former police officer Dejan Pantic, Vecernje Novosti newspaper reported.

In mid-November, the ex-policeman quit his post along with other ethnic Serbs who work as law enforcers in Kosovo. He was arrested earlier on Saturday at the Jarinje border crossing.

Kosovo police and local media reported on Sunday that explosions, gunfire, and roadblocks were erected overnight in the north of the country, causing some injuries, as violence broke out in northern Kosovo after Serbs blocked roads.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Tweeted: "EU will not tolerate attacks on EULEX Kosovo or use of violent, criminal acts in the north."

He also called on the Kosovo Serbs to remove the barricades immediately, stressing that "calm must be restored. EULEX will continue to coordinate with Kosovo authorities and KFOR. All actors must avoid escalation."

Read more: Serbia will not sanction Russia: President  

Kurti stated that if KFOR refuses to take action, Kosovo's security forces will be prepared to carry out the mission themselves.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on Telegram on Sunday that the EU has been devising the current Kosovo-Serbia situation for years.

"Well, why 'inaction'. This is exactly the situation that the EU has essentially been modeling for years," she said, in response to a comment by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic that Serbia is on the brink of war verge of war because of Kosovo's Prime Minister and due to the inaction of the EU.

  • Nato
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Kosovo
  • European Union

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS