Petkovic: Pristina's military alliance with Albanian army direct threat to Serbia, Serbs

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Monday a military alliance between the so-called Kosovo Security Force and the Albanian army, announced by Albin Kurti, was a direct threat to Serbia and the Serbs.

"That is the axis of the policy of the Pristina regime, whose every move is aimed at Belgrade and is a new step towards forming a so-called Greater Albania," Petkovic said in a statement.

The so-called KSF and sabre-rattling by Pristina are happening before the eyes of the entire international community, which has not reacted to Pristina's military alliances with NATO members Croatia and Albania, he noted.

The alliances are aimed at destabilising the situation on the ground and making the Western Balkans a new powder keg, Petkovic added.

"Evidently, Kurti is allowed to do anything, and that - amid the greatest global challenges to preserve peace - even includes Pristina threatening with conflicts by creating alliances that are not conducive to a calming of tensions, but to escalation on the ground," Petkovic said.

It is known that, under UNSCR 1244, KFOR is the only military formation in Kosovo-Metohija, he said.

Any military alliance and militarisation of the so-called KSF is a violation of UNSCR 1244 and an attempt to create a new "Kosovo Liberation Army," whose activities are forbidden, he said.

"Despite all of Kurti's threats and dreams of war, Belgrade, with President Aleksandar Vucic at the helm, will continue to safeguard peace and the Serbs, to act conscientiously and responsibly, insisting on respect for UNSCR 1244, insisting on the document being respected in its full capacity," Petkovic said.