Yesterday, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that the Serbian army had crossed 50 meters into Kosovo’s border zone. Today, Serbia responded, claiming its soldiers were in the area to prevent illegal logging.
However, this explanation from Serbia is not being accepted by Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci.
Maqedonci reacted after Serbia’s justification for the movement of its troops 50 meters from the border line with Kosovo, where the neighboring state claimed this was done to prevent illegal logging.
“In the statement by the Serbian Ministry of Defense regarding the activities of the Serbian army within 50 meters of the border with Kosovo’s territory, a typical military activity is being disguised as an operation to prevent illegal logging. Since when has the Serbian army been tasked with forest protection, and moreover, with armed soldiers equipped with weapons, tactical gear, and military armored vehicles? According to the forestry law of the Republic of Serbia, specifically in its Article 40, it is clearly stated that forest rangers under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management are the only officials responsible for protecting forests and preventing illegal logging within Serbia’s territory,” the minister said.
Maqedonci expressed that the Serbian Ministry of Defense is attempting to justify the increased military presence of Serbian soldiers near Kosovo’s territory with completely unfounded excuses.
“Continuously, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia tries to justify the increased military presence of Serbian soldiers near the territory of the Republic of Kosovo by using entirely unsustainable excuses, as they also attempt to present military exercises with offensive fighter jets and suicide drones, such as the ‘Vihor 2024’ exercise in Pešter, as military preparations for territorial defense,” he added.
The Minister of Defense further emphasized that Serbia’s continued militarization, particularly the positioning of numerous military capacities in the southern part of its territory, is an indicator of Serbia’s persistent hegemonic and aggressive approach toward Kosovo and its other neighbors.
“Nevertheless, the Republic of Kosovo remains steadfast in its journey toward Euro-Atlantic integration and will always be determined to develop military capacities according to NATO standards, capable of defending the country’s territory and sovereignty, while also contributing to peace and security in the world,” he concluded.
