Kosovo President Osmani warns Serbia of annexation plans
Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani, expressed deep concerns over the escalating situation along the Kosovo-Serbia border.
In a recent interview with "La Republica”, Osmani said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is contemplating the annexation of Kosovo with the assistance of Russian weapons, drawing parallels to the Crimea model.
Osmani, resolute in her stance, declared, "Serbia should know that it will face a people ready to defend freedom at all costs, and for this, NATO is with us."
The Kosovo President pointed to what she termed as an act of aggression committed by Serbia on September 24 in Banjska, Zveçan, where a policeman, Afrim Bunjaku, lost his life, and three others were injured, one critically from gunfire. Osmani emphasized that Serbia is now positioning armed forces and military artillery along the border, further heightening tensions.
"There is irrefutable evidence. Serbia committed an act of aggression on September 24 and is preparing to commit another act by positioning armed forces and military artillery on the border with Kosovo. It is something different from what we have seen in the last 25 years, unprecedented," she asserted.
In response to the escalating situation, the United States issued a statement on Friday, expressing deep concern and closely monitoring what they termed as the "unprecedented movement of artillery, tanks, and other Serbian military units" along the Kosovo-Serbia border. The U.S. labeled the movement as "very destabilizing."
The Kosovo government, through an official statement on Saturday, disclosed that units of the Second Brigade of the Serbian Army have shifted from Rashka towards the northern border of Kosovo.
Simultaneously, units of the Third Brigade have moved from the Region of Nis towards the northern-eastern border, and units of the Fourth Brigade have been deployed from the Vranje Region towards the eastern border of Kosovo.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized the imperative to protect the border, while President Osmani reiterated Kosovo's commitment to peace and security. The international community watches with growing concern as tensions in the region reach unprecedented levels. (ILKHA)