Starovic: Turkey's intensive arming of Pristina escalates risks

BELGRADE - State Secretary at the Serbian Defence Ministry Nemanja Starovic said on Tuesday Turkey was working intensively on arming and training the so-called Kosovo's security forces.

Speaking to the RTS, Starovic said this was contrary to UNSCR 1244, the Brussels Agreement and all other relevant agreements.

"Of course, we have been monitoring all those processes intensively. For months, our relevant agencies have been informing the state leadership in great detail of what is going on and, of course, through diplomatic channels, we have warned Turkish representatives that what is going on is absolutely unacceptable," Starovic said.

"They, of course, say this is about some kind of commercial arrangements and sales," he added, noting that the so-called Kosovo Security Force was not allowed to have the arms provided by Turkey.

"From what we know, considering the budget set aside for the so-called Kosovo Security Force, they do not have the funds for such things and those cannot be commercial arrangements, and it is quite certain the arms are Turkish donations," Starovic said.

He said the arms included not only Bayraktar UAVs but also sophisticated OMTAS anti-tank systems, mortars and RPG launchers.

"Therefore, that escalates the risks and threats, especially to the Serb population in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as to the Republic of Serbia as a whole," Starovic said.

There is no reason for panic, but this is a breach of international law, Starovic said, noting that Belgrade had adequate answers to that.