Belgrade is strengthening its military on the Kosovo border and wants to purchase new weapons. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assures Kosovo of additional help.
Pristina – Tensions continue to rise between Serbia and Kosovo. Serbia has significantly strengthened its military on its border with Kosovo. Weapons also keep finding their way into the divided city of Mitrovica. Kosovo's security forces say they have confiscated weapons and military equipment for up to 400 fighters after shootouts with Serbian paramilitaries last year.
Tensions reached a climax on September 24th last year: a 30-strong, heavily armed Serbian commando group fought with the Kosovar police in the town of Banjska near Mitrovica in Serb-inhabited northern Kosovo. Three Serbian attackers and a Kosovar police officer were killed.
Serbia arms minority in Kosovo
In addition, an analysis of confiscated documents and military weapons proves that the Serbian state was equipped with equipment as well as close connections to the apparatus of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, according to an investigation report by the Kosovo government. The 51-page paper from the Kosovo Foreign Ministry, for which photos and videos, data sets and identity cards were examined, was the German press agency on Monday (February 5th).
The report also warns against Serbia's cooperation with the Russian state and president Wladimir Putin: “If the West continues to allow Vucic to escalate and does not take unambiguous clear steps to deter Vucic and Putin from further escalations, the Balkans could sink into war once again.”
Pistorius assures Pristina of further support
On Monday, during the visit of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), President Vjosa Osmani called for increased protection of the border with Serbia, through which weapons smuggling runs into the north of Kosovo. There must also be a clear signal to the Serbian government that acts of violence will not be tolerated. Pistorius has assured the government of further military support from Germany. The Bundeswehr is on schedule with plans to send additional soldiers, said the SPD politician in Pristina on Monday.
At the same time, after the recent tensions, he called on Serbs and Albanians to seek progress through negotiations on the path to the European Union. The USA, Germany and the other NATO partners have not provided security with up to 50,000 soldiers since the 1990s “in order to watch now or in the future how the situation here destabilizes again,” he said.
More Bundeswehr soldiers are supposed to ensure security in Kosovo
Even against the backdrop of a deteriorating security situation in Kosovo, the Bundeswehr will increase its commitment to the Kosovo Group (KFOR). Around 90 men and women from the Bundeswehr are currently deployed at KFOR and the NATO advisory team (NALT). From April onwards, a Bundeswehr company with more than 150 additional soldiers is to be deployed in Kosovo. Kosovo, which is now almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians, declared itself independent in 2008. More than 100 countries, including Germany, recognize independence, but not Serbia, which is reclaiming its former province.
But the signs point to confrontation in the Western Balkans. The USA had announced that it would supply Kosovo with Javelin anti-tank missiles. Serbia then announced two packages worth more than half a billion euros with which it would strengthen its military. Belgrade wants to use the money to purchase howitzers, drone defense technology and helicopters, among other things. (erpe/dpa)
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