On Thursday, the Serbian government requested NATO peacekeeping commander Aleksandar Vucic to allow Serbia to send at least 1000 soldiers and police officers to Kosovo.
Since the United Nations Security Council resolution in 1998-1999, which ended the war in Kosovo during which NATO bombed Rump Yugoslavia (which included Serbia and Montenegro), to protect the Kosovo-majority Kosovo, Belgrade has requested troops to Kosovo for the first time.
Vucic said that the government would ask for the return of hundreds but not more than 1000 army and police officers. Vucic also stated that they would email the request to KFOR (NATO’s mission in Kosovo) and then hand it at a border crossing on Friday.
Vucic stated that he didn’t expect to get a positive reply.
This request was made during a string clashes that took place between the Kosovo authorities, and Serbs living within the northern region where they are a majority.
The UN resolution allows Serbia to be allowed, but only if KFOR approves its personnel at border crossings and Orthodox Christian religious sites.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia with Western support in 2008. 110 countries recognize Kosovo’s independence but not Serbia, Russia, or five European Union member states.
On Thursday, Kosovo President Vjosa Olmani told the parliament that Serbia is constantly threatening Kosovo.
“Serbia and its leader Vucic know that the presence of the Serbian Army in Kosovo ended on June 12, 1999.”
Serbia is keen to join the EU. To do so, Serbia must resolve its Kosovo issues. On Thursday, Kosovo requested EU member.
Despite both sides having reached an agreement on the EU-sponsored dialog in 2013, very little has been done.
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