The final stage of preparation is currently under way to adopt the second cycle of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) between Serbia and NATO, Tanjug news agency reports. It is the highest mechanism of NATO cooperation with partner countries, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia in charge of security issues Branimir Filipovic said. Filipovic told the European Western Balkans that the main priorities of partner cooperation remain unchanged, and that the new three-year IPAP will be supplemented with new activities, both in the areas of military cooperation, as well as in

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic has assessed that the formation of an army in Kosovo and a statement of a KFOR spokesperson "make a mockery of all agreements," BETA news agency reports. Brnabic said that forming an army was contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Brussels agreement, and the Kosovo Constitution itself, and that NATO has "clearly and unequivocally" stated that it was opposed the formation of an armed force in such a way - and added that Serbia would not allow

Foreign Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica Dacic says no armed formations of Albanians can enter northern Kosovo without the consent of KFOR.

Dacic added, speaking on Monday, that this agreement that had been reached with NATO should be translated into a directive that everyone in the field should respect - "in order to avoid a situation that would trigger major problems in Kosovo and Metohija."

KFOR spokesperson Vincenzo Grasso says special units Rosu can enter the north of Kosovo without the permission of KFOR.

In an interview with the newspaper, Grasso said that "the special operations unit, which can be armed with long rifles" belongs to the Kosovo police and as such has the mandate to enforce the law throughout Kosovo "without the obligation to seek approval."

Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nebojsa Stefanovic said Serbs in Kosovo do not trust Pristina institutions, adding that Pristina’s police and army cannot replace KFOR and EULEX, Tanjug news agency reports. According to him, Pristina by establishing the so-called army wanted to show that Kosovo no longer needs international presence. “It is unacceptable because Serbs do not trust these structures. Without KFOR there, we would enter a crisis situation,” Stefanovic told TV Pink.  

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said on Monday that the European Union should halt the visa liberalization process for citizens of Kosovo, if Pristina fails to revoke the 100 percent tariffs on Serbian goods. Vulin told RTS that the EU should change its policy towards Kosovo from carrot to stick, adding that Pristina was always rewarded for what he said was bad behavior.

Newly appointed KFOR Commander Major General Lorenzo D’Addario said KFOR is ready to intervene in Kosovo if stability is endangered, Tanjug news agency reported. General D’Addario told Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda that decision on transformation of Kosovo Security Forces into armed forces is ill-timed. He added, the North-Atlantic Organization would now have to re-examine its level of engagement with Kosovo Security Forces. “What remains certain is that NATO with its KFOR Mission remains committed to ensuring a safe environment in Kosovo, but also stability of the Western Balkans,” he unde

Regional broadcaster N1 reports that Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric told reporters in the Government of Serbia that Kosovo Army for Serbia is an illegal armed formation on the territory of Serbia, formed with an aim of violently changing the borders of the country.

"The decision on its formation aims at violent change of the borders of our country and violation of the established position of our southern province by the Constitution and international," Djuric told reporters.

Chairman of Srpska Lista and Crisis Headquarters, Goran Rakic spoke over the phone last night with KFOR Commander Major General Lorenzo D’Addario and familiarized him with the security situation on the ground.

Laws are expected to be adopted in Pristina on Friday that would allow the formation of the "army" of Kosovo. Vucic travels to the Ground Security Zone. All media in Belgrade, but also in Pristina, marked today as "D-Day" for the formation an army in Kosovo.