Stoltenberg: Kosovo Army initiative goes against advice of NATO allies
GazetaExpress
2 minutes
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the initiative of Kosovo to create its Army is ill-timed and goes against the advice of many NATO Allies. He said intentions of Kosovo authorities to move ahead with transformation of the KSF into an army may have serious repercussions for Kosovo’s future Euro-Atlantic integration.
Addressing media following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, Stoltenberg confirmed that one of the topics discussed was also Kosovo’s intention to move ahead with the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. “Such a move is ill-timed. It goes against the advice of many NATO Allies. And may have serious repercussions for Kosovo’s future Euro-Atlantic integration,” he said. Stoltenberg assessed that the new tariffs introduced by Pristina create new divisions. “Such steps are making the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina even more difficult. But this remains the only way to bring durable peace to the region. We encourage both Belgrade and Pristina to show restraint. To refrain from provocative steps and statements. And to make the necessary compromises so that they can move forward towards a better future,” he said. Kosovo Parliament is set to vote on 14 December a package of laws on transition of the lightly armed KSF into Army of Kosovo. /GazetaExpress/
