Vucic: Threats at Pristina rally were expected, I believe KFOR will maintain security in Kosovo

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he was confident that KFOR would maintain security in Kosovo ahead of the judgment against the KLA leaders in The Hague, adding that Belgrade had expected threats and provocations at yesterday’s rally in support of the KLA in Pristina, RTS reported.

Responding to a question about the security situation in Kosovo ahead of the judgment against Hashim Thaci, Vucic said he was confident that KFOR would ensure the safety of the population.

“I am certain, based on my exchange of letters with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, that KFOR will preserve the safety and security of the people in Kosovo and Metohija. Quite simply, I do not believe that either the Europeans or the Americans would benefit from or want to see any kind of violence,” Vucic said.

Referring to the march in Pristina ahead of the judgment, Vucic said that Belgrade had expected such an atmosphere.

“What we saw yesterday, those threats—we have become accustomed to them and we expected them,” he said.

He expressed hope that the guarantees he said he had received in discussions concerning the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo would be honored.

“I hope that, in line with what I have heard countless times and the guarantees I have received in discussions concerning the survival of our people, those guarantees will be honored,” Vucic said.

Speaking about the forthcoming judgment, he questioned how a possible decision in which no one was held responsible for the deaths of civilians listed in the indictment should be interpreted.

“And what are we supposed to believe if we receive a judgment saying that no one is guilty for the deaths of those dozens of civilians named in the indictment?” Vucic asked.

He stressed that Serbia, regardless of the outcome, must preserve peace and stability.

“We must preserve peace and stability, but at least it will become clear to us what they have been doing to us politically,” Vucic added.

Military service from March

Speaking about the reintroduction of compulsory military service, Vucic said that the state, the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces were ready, announcing that military service was expected to begin in March.

“Everything is ready, and I think it will proceed normally from March,” Vucic said.

He said military service would last 75 days and assessed that, although this was a relatively short period, it would be significant for young people.

“It is not many days—it is 75 days—but it will mean a great deal in terms of developing responsibility, seriousness, commitment and, I would say, even maturity, particularly for our young men,” Vucic stressed.

According to him, the reintroduction of military service could also contribute to the development of towns where military barracks are located, particularly in border areas.

“I think this is also important for the development of our towns, particularly in border areas—from Pirot and Priboj to Sombor. When you have barracks of this kind, it is almost as though you have a factory in the town, and I believe it will mean a great deal to the people and to those towns,” Vucic said.