The US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, said on Friday that Serbia is clear that any use of force against Kosovo is unacceptable and would endanger NATO troops on the ground, to protect all its citizens.
He made these comments in a conversation with journalists when asked about a post by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, who said that special units of the Serbian army were spotted just a few meters away from the border with Kosovo. Prime Minister Kurti said that “we are aware that the Armed Forces of Serbia are carrying out regular exercises and are using them as a pretext to cause deliberate provocations near the border with Kosovo”.
Serbian authorities told the media in Belgrade that the troop movements are part of regular exercises in the land security zone along the border with Kosovo.
“In Serbia, President Vučić knows very well that any use of force against Kosovo would be unacceptable and would be seen as endangering the NATO troops who are there to protect the Serbian and Albanian population. He said that there will be no use of force. We are following the exercises, but the essential issue is that the parties must reduce tensions, including those related to the army exercises around the border”, said Mr. O'Brien.
He also said that it has become clear to Serbia that the persons involved in the attack on September 24 last year against the Kosovo police in the north must be held responsible.
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