THACI ADMITTED DEFEAT: We don't have international support to form an army, partners to convince Serbs

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci admitted that Kosovo has no international support, especially from the United States, to amend legislation that would give Kosovo Security Forces military jurisdiction, reports Koha Ditore. The United States and the international community, he told the Voice of America, support the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force through constitutional amendments.

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- I've been working for three years now to address the issue through a constitutional amendment, and I would like that to happen very much. We had the support of the US and NATO, but now it became impossible, especially after the open, clear and decisive statements of the Serbian List and Belgrade that they do not allow it, a Serbian list is threatened not to vote on the law - said Thaci.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

That is why, as he said, all that remains is for Kosovo not to have the military or to go to some different plan.

Thaci claims that the decision is on the establishment of the army under the jurisdiction of the Kosovo institutions and that all international stakeholders are informed about the process.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

- We all want constitutional change, and we will work to make this happen. The process of transformation is institutional, constitutional and legal and it valuable withing our Euro-Atlantic frame. Therefore, I am fully convinced that the international community will have an understanding for the sincere commitment of Kosovo's institutions - Thaci expectes.

He claims that the Kosovo army will not engage anyone and that no one should feel threatened.

Thaci believes that the formation of the Kosovo Armed Forces will result in ending the negotiations with Belgrade.

Considering that Serbian list won't vote for the bill, Thaci said that this problem has existed for several years and he has asked from "Kosovo partners" to convince MPs on the list to vote yes, he said, for constitutional and legislative changes.

- Kosovo is not making any sudden steps, nor any surprises. It is no unilateral or uncoordinated actions, either illegal or unconstitutional procedure. There is no action that would be considered danger for peace in Kosovo and in the region - says Thaci.

Foto: mksf-ks.org

As he says, the point is that Kosovo institutions have decided to give Kosovo Security Forces duties of a professional army and that it only provoked "only one country, only Serbia."

As Thaci claims, the only threat to peace in the region, is the increase of the influence of Russia, and the number of aircraft and military bases, he says, in Serbia.

To that threat, he says, should be added the threats posed by terrorism, where "Kosovo continues to be the champion of the region in the uncompromising fight against terrorism."

- I expect that NATO is aware of the specific risks and not to worry about the transformation of KSF knowing that they are trained by NATO and its member states. This is my direct response to the concerns of NATO, the Secretary General of NATO and the United States - says Thaci.

Prime Minister Vucic announced that the state secretary of NATO Jens Stoltenberg thanked him because Serbia has preserved peace and stability and informed him that NATO is against forming the Army of Kosovo, which he marked to be the clear win for Serbia.

US and NATO insist that the transformation of KSF is performed with the constitutional changes that would be supported by the Serbian list.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)