Serbian MoD slams trilateral meeting of Albanian, Croatian and Pristina representatives

BELGRADE - The Serbian Ministry of Defence strongly condemned on Wednesday a trilateral meeting of representatives of Albania, Croatia and the provisional self-government institutions in Pristina, aimed at deepening military cooperation and coordination among the three parties, and noted that the military alliance posed a security challenge for Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as a threat to peace in the region.

"Such actions represent a blatant disregard for and a serious violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Military Technical Agreement. Kosovo-Metohija is an integral part of the Republic of Serbia, under a temporary UN administration, and KFOR remains the sole legitimate armed formation in the territory of Kosovo-Metohija, with a clearly defined mandate.

Efforts to further institutionalise and strengthen the so-called Kosovo Security Force through regional military arrangements represent a direct attack on the international legal order and pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the region. Such actions can potentially lead to long-term security consequences and destabilize the situation in the Western Balkans.

The Republic of Serbia views this military alliance as an instrument of pressure and a security risk to Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija. Our country remains committed to safeguarding peace, while clearly stating that it will not allow its vital national and defence interests to be jeopardised," the MoD said in a statement.

In the wake of a January 30 Croatia-Albania-Pristina meeting in Zagreb at the level of directors for defence policies and arms, the chiefs of the armed forces of Albania and Croatia and the commander of the so-called Kosovo Security Force met in Shkoder on Wednesday.

The three parties signed a memorandum on defence and security cooperation in Tirana in March 2025.

Under UNSCR1244, KFOR is the only armed force in Kosovo-Metohija.

However, in 2009, Pristina formed the so-called Kosovo Security Force from the Kosovo Protection Corps - a successor to the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army".

At a session not attended by Serb representatives, Pristina's assembly passed in 2018 a law on transforming the so-called Kosovo Security Force into an army.