Vucevic: Pristina is building its own army, which is a violation of Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Agreement

Minister of Defense of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, assessed that Pristina most flagrantly violated Resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council and the Kumanovo Agreement, Russia Today reports.

"Pristina is arming its Security Forces with powerful systems in order to transform them into the army of Kosovo," Vucevic said.

He emphasized that "this is the most flagrant violation of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council and the Kumanovo Agreement".

"Apart from drones, as a donation from Turkey, they also received other systems - howitzers, mortars, anti-tank systems, offensive systems. Officers are sent to NATO countries for training, they also have joint exercises," Vucevic said.

He repeated that the preservation of peace and stability was the national interest of Serbia.

"The weapons of Pristina cannot be compared with the military potential of the Serbian Army, but these are clear indications that they have a strategy for the development of their army in Kosovo," Vucevic said.

He adds that in relation to that situation, Serbia must set its operational plans and, as he states, additionally train the army and install adequate systems of military equipment.

With the decision of the Pristina authorities and the adoption of the necessary laws, the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) have been transforming into an army since 2018. It was announced that this process should last ten years, when after the transition the professional army would number 5,000 people. The tasks of the KSF in the transitional period include engagement in crises and civil protection.

Following Pristina's decision on transformation, the United States announced in 2018 that it was "natural for an independent country", while NATO announced that it was against its recommendations.