Announced withdrawal of a military mission from Kosovo would destabilize the entire region and endanger survival of Serbs, Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti writes today.

The daily continued Serbia would seek support from the two influential UN SC member states, Russia and China, in order to prevent obvious plans of Pristina’s allies to withdraw KFOR and EULEX missions from Kosovo and Metohija. In case of such scenario, that powerful supporters of Kosovo independence do not even hide, aiming to prepare the ground for the establishment of the Kosovo army, survival and remain of Serbs in Kosovo would be seriously jeopardized. Therefore Belgrade stance is clear and firm. UN SC Resolution 1244 and Kumanovo Military-Technical Agreement stipulate only the presence of KFOR in Kosovo, and any change in it would also have to be approved on the East River, where Serbia can count on support from Russia and China. Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin also commented on the issue, saying that KFOR did not arrive to Kosovo by the will of NATO, but based on UN SC decision and any change would have to be approved there. Vulin also repeated the stance that establishment of the Kosovo army in unacceptable to Serbia and would represent a danger to the peace and stability in the region, Vecernje Novosti reported. Chairperson of the Serbian Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, Milovan Drecun voiced the same opinion, saying KFOR is not a NATO mission and only the UN can abolish it. “In case if some members of the Alliance make the decision to withdraw their troops it would open room for the presence of some other countries’ forces. I think that NATO is also aware that “Kosovo Security Forces” cannot be a guarantor of safety in Kosovo,” Drecun said. Srpska Lista is also against KFOR’s departure and shortening of their mandate, Vecernje Novosti reported.