O’Connell: Serbs should not be afraid, no one intends to conquer north (Prva TV, KIM Radio)
UK Ambassador in Pristina, Ruairi O’Connell said Serbs in Kosovo should not be afraid of decision to establish Kosovo army, since, as he said, he believes there is no intention to use this army against them, Prva TV reports.
He also added, his country does not consider the process to be disputable, since according to him “Kosovo is independent, sovereign state, and as such it can establish armed forces if it wishes so.”
“The mere fact there are armed forces is neither negative nor destabilizing matter. Here, it is about process that would last 10 years and at the end of it the forces of 3.500 members would increase to 5.000. It is not a major change. I think there is no intention at all, that someone conquers Mitrovica or north of Kosovo. I certainly think there is no intention to use armed forces against Kosovo Serbs,” Ambassador O’Connell said, adding that the opposite behaviour of Pristina in a long-term would interrupt relations of Kosovo with the international community.
According to him, it would be extremely stupid move “and that is why I think I will not happen.”