Serbia's defense minister warns of "red lines" in Kosovo conflict

Created: 2022-12-16 05:32

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic with Serbian troops.

© Twitter/@mo_i_vs

In the course of the conflict with Kosovo, the Serbian military is probably on "alert".

Defense Minister Vucevic advises against "illusions".

MUNICH – On Tuesday (December 13), Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic visited the Third Army Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces in the small town of Kursumlija.

The small town is located in the south of Serbia and very close to the border with Kosovo.

No doubt this should apparently be a signal of “alertness” to Pristina amid the current tensions.

Speaking to the Serbian channel TV Happy, Vucevic spoke about the explosive situation in the region, which Belgrade still considers apostate.

Serbia-Kosovo conflict: Belgrade's defense minister speaks of military readiness

"We are equipped and armed," Vucevic told the broadcaster.

He called for the establishment of an umbrella organization for Serbian communities in Kosovo, a central point of the Brussels agreement from 2013. After all, this is about "a kind of autonomy" and a guarantee "that the Serbian community can live in these regions".

Belgrade will not give up this demand.

According to Vucevic, the EU also has a responsibility as the "guarantor of the Brussels Agreement".

"Serbia has red lines and today they are very visible and clear to everyone," he said, referring to the situation in Kosovo.

Nobody should have "illusions," he warned.

Serbia will protect Serbian citizens.

"It's a terribly wrong idea to assume that Serbia has no plans and doesn't know what it's doing," Vucevic said.

He assured that Serbia certainly has a strategy that will adapt to the development of the situation.

Serbia-Kosovo conflict: Vucevic underlines dialogue and defends Serbian barricades in Kosovo

However, the defense minister also emphasized that Serbia must engage in "peace and stability".

The main goal must always be "keeping the peace," he said.

Instead of new conflicts, Serbia needs economic and defensive reinforcements, he said, according to broadcaster B92.

The army is ready, but politics is being used to resolve political disputes.

"No matter how painful" it is to hold talks with the Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti, one tries to bring the situation back "into the framework of the dialogue".

According to Vucevic, the political leadership must do everything possible to avoid conflicts and resolve Serbian interests at the negotiating table.

To this end, Serbian President Alexander Vucic has already met with the EU and US envoys.

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The defense minister also showed understanding for the barricades erected by Serbs in Kosovo.

The Serbian population is exposed to "pressure and threats", which is why they are forced "to defend their rights in a democratic way".

After all, they didn't threaten Kosovan citizens, they just blocked the streets.

"This is the result of a whole series of unilateral steps taken by Pristina, that is, Albin Kurti," Vuceciv claimed.