Djuric: Serbia to take into consideration Turkey's decision to deliver UAVs to Pristina

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday a decision by the Turkish authorities to deliver lethal weapons to Pristina represented a unilateral and unlawful move and that Serbia would have to take it "into consideration in its further actions".

"The decision of the Turkish authorities to deliver lethal weapons to Kurti’s regime represents pouring oil on the fire and a prime example of malign interference in regional affairs with destabilising consequences," Djuric posted on X.

"I strongly condemn this unilateral and unlawful move, which constitutes a step backward in efforts to normalise relations in the region and an encouragement to the policy of aggression toward the Serb and other non-majority communities in Kosovo-Metohija.

What Kosovo* needs are not killer drones, but respect for basic human rights of all citizens, normalisation of relations and economic development. Serbia will have to take this move into consideration in its further actions," Djuric posted.

He also noted that "trust is difficult to build, and unfortunately, much easier to undermine."

Earlier on Thursday, Pristina announced an acquisition of Turkish-made Skydagger UAVs and its PM Albin Kurti said the shipment consisted of "thousands" of UAVs.

In the past, Pristina has also purchased TB2 Bayraktar UAVs from Turkey as well as US-made Puma UAVs.

Under UNSCR 1244, Kfor is the only armed force in Kosovo-Metohija, and the document also envisioned full demilitarisation of the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army" and other armed groups of ethnic Albanians.

However, in 2009, Pristina established the so-called "Kosovo Security Force" from the Kosovo Protection Corps and former "KLA" members and, in 2018 - at a session that was not attended by Serb representatives - its assembly passed a law on transforming the so-called "KSF" into an army.