Vucic: Gov't has adopted decision to request return of Serbian forces to Kosovo-Metohija

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening the Serbian government had adopted a decision to request from KFOR a redeployment of up to 1,000 Serbian army and police personnel to Kosovo-Metohija under UN SC Resolution 1244.

In an interview for the RTS, Vucic said the government had decided to send the request in electronic form this evening while the Serbian Armed Forces chief of general staff would present it to the KFOR commander at an administrative crossing on Friday morning.

He said the decision had been unanimous and that Serbia wanted nothing more than respect of international law.

"That would be important right now for protection of the Serb population, and for the reason it is envisioned by the resolution - control of administrative crossings, especially at Jarinje and Brnjak, which would dramatically reduce tensions. That would be a good decision," he said.

"Based on what we have heard, we are almost certain it (the request) will not be accepted," Vucic noted.

"Had they considered it better, it would contribute to peace, a reduction of tensions, a completely different vision of the future and possibilities for some compromise solutions, but they did not want to even hear of that because it means poking a finger in the eye of those who want to decide about us without us and to have a right to decide without law, not to mention justice," Vucic said.

He also said no one would be able to convince him a French-German plan for resolving the Kosovo-Metohija issue was status-neutral, and noted that a recognition of the so-called Kosovo and its membership in the UN were unacceptable to him.