Vucevic: The biggest security risk is the situation in the north of Kosovo and Metohija

The Minister of Defense in the Government of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, said today that the biggest security risk was the situation in the north of Kosovo, and indicated that the infrastructural activities of the Kosovo police had been noticed, that is, their further positioning, which was not a good sign.

"At the moment, there has been a calming of tensions in terms of the escalation that was threatening, but everything that happens in the area of the southern province must be carefully monitored, which includes new infrastructure works in the concept of the Kosovo police, that is, how they call that body, as well as the Kosovo Security Forces and their bilateral cooperation with members of KFOR,” Vucevic emphasized in a statement to journalists after the presentation of the analysis of the state and capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces.

He underlined that Serbia was clearly opposed to the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces into the Kosovo armed forces because, he says, this would lead to the creation of the Kosovo army.

He added that there were countries that were also involved in that process.

"It represents a risk and a security danger for our country, and according to that we assess the situation, make decisions and make moves that are not always for the general public. It is a first-class challenge, but we hope that this issue will be brought back to the negotiating table, and not the issue of the Serbian Army or the security structures. But, allegedly, we will not fall asleep, we will follow what is happening on the field and we will not step away from our red lines," Vucevic emphasized.

When asked if it was true that Pristina was using the calming of tensions to build new bases, he said that the activities of the Kosovo police had been observed in the area of four municipalities in the north.

"Their infrastructural activities have been noticed, that is, their further positioning, which is not a good sign. I would say that it is distancing us from the dialogue process. We constantly call on KFOR and EULEX to take over what is in their mandate, which is to guarantee security for all citizens of Kosovo and Metohija, especially for communities that are minorities. We do not think that the Pristina administration will change its concept, there is no great relaxation for us in terms of security structures," he said.