Director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić objected today to announced creation of army of Kosovo and downsizing of KFOR, and pointed that it would not serve the peace and stability, and protection of Serbs in the province.

At the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session Đurić said that downsizing of KFOR could mean only destabilization, and in worst case scenario, violence against non-Albanians. “Who will, if there is no KFOR around, protect monastery Visoki Dečani and Serbs in Gračanca, Štrpce...?”asked Đurić. According to him there is no army of Kosovo that can be replacement for international forces, because KFOR is first of all factor of deterrence.

Đurić warned on possible role of the mono-ethnic army in providing security and asked how would ‘transformed Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members’ be able to carry it out. He reiterated that official Belgrade is devoted to the implementation of the Brussels Agreement provisions and that it will continue to offer its hand to all political parties in Pristina, particularly those who are against the creation  of the Association/Community of Serb-municipalities (A/CSM). He went on to say that not a single count referring to the creation of the A/CSM has been fulfilled and stressed that the basic reason behind is that political forces in Pristina do not want it to take place. Đurić added that no one should fear creation of the A/CSM and highlighted that Pristina is ‘inventing political obstacles for creation’, and said that Belgrade will continue to offer its hand hoping that it will be accepted.

Kosovo Albanian political parties should understand that what is good for Serbs can’t be bad for Kosovo Albanians, said Đurić.