Vucevic: Kurti will not stop; I am afraid of further escalation on the ground

Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic, said today that Belgrade was facing a challenging period regarding Kosovo, and pointed out that Albin Kurti would not stop with his policy, which was based on the expulsion of the Serbs from Kosovo, which was why he feared additional escalation on the ground.

"I don't expect de-escalation, I'm afraid of further escalation on the field," Vucevic emphasized for B92.

He pointed out that, while representatives of the international community expected some kind of turnaround, he personally did not see an iota of will among Kurti and his associates to give up the policy that led to further escalation, instead of calming tensions, directly endangering the survival of the Serbs in Kosovo.

"It's good that some of the detained Serbs were released to defend themselves from freedom. But it's like when someone beats you up and then gives you painkillers to make it hurt less, without removing the cause that led to it. Let's not fall for it. It is certainly easier when we know that the people who were in the Albanian casemates are now with their families, but the cause that led to this has not been eliminated," Vucevic pointed out.

Regarding the statement that Pristina is still arming itself, he notes that this is something that KFOR must react to.

It is known, he reminds, which military component can only be present in Kosovo, as well as that Serbia has no problem with the fact that KFOR is in charge of the security of everyone in Kosovo, including the Serbs.

"And not the KSF, which is contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and they are even going into their transformation into the Kosovo army, the new Albanian army and they are halfway there - they are conducting training for future soldiers and officers, trying to mobilize the population, along with the delivery of modern weapons and military equipment," the Serbian Minister of Defense warned.

If something were to happen in the north in this regard, he emphasizes, it would be "thickly crossed red lines".

To the statement that the Serbs are worried for a reason, while the opposition claims that trust in the state is not at the former level, Vucevic replied that he did not even want to respond to such allegations by the opposition, which said from Belgrade that criminals rule in the north of Kosovo, which gave the gateway to Kurti for all operations in the north.

"When you participate in labeling and branding the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija, you repeat Kurti's narrative that criminal gangs, the killers of Oliver Ivanovic, are organized there... You give Kurti confirmation that what he is doing in the north is not motivated by ethnic cleansing, but by the fight for the rule of law, which is irresponsible," Vucevic said.

He adds, that trust in the state is not lost, but in the international community, and absolute mistrust is being created in Pristina, as well as disgust towards those who, he says, are the Serbs, by name and surname, Kurti's henchmen.

"There is no March 17, 2004. There is no 'Operation Storm’; there is no 'Opetarion Flash'. Do not check," Vucevic said.

He reiterated that Serbia wanted peace and talks, no matter how difficult they were, and always stated that everyone should do everything to avoid conflicts.

"But peace requires both sides," the Minister pointed out, criticizing the international community for calling "both sides" for de-escalation.

"Which two sides are you calling for de-escalation? Stefan and Milos, who were shot at? Who exactly are you calling for? We are holding back, and what are you going to say to Kurti, will he also hold back, or will he continue to acquire weapons? They say that "Bayraktars" are not armed. Should that calm us down?" Vucevic asked.

He added that Serbia was aware that Pristina, for the time being, was using "bayraktars" in reconnaissance in the vicinity of Djakovica, but also that it was always ready to, God forbid, respond to any move by Pristina.

When it comes to the upcoming meeting between Vucic and Kurti as a part of the dialogue in Brussels, on September 14, Vucevic says that one must not enter into a narrative according to which Serbia would be to blame for the eventual collapse of negotiations or the lack of will to talk.

"We must not assign ourselves that role, no matter how unpleasant it is and we have the impression - what else is there to discuss... So that we are not to blame for the failure of the negotiations. We must be wise, cunning, present, and clearly underline our positions – remove fake mayors, remove the occupying forces from the north, release the detained Serbs, and form the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. Strengthen KFOR in the north, we have no problem with that. The situation can be calmed down very easily, only if Pristina respects the agreements," Vucevic concluded.