Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Xhelal Sveçla, stated that official Pristina is ready to deploy the army in the north in case of a potential attack from Serbia. According to him, based on a 2013 agreement, the army can only enter the four northern municipalities with the permission of the KFOR commander, which he finds unjust and strange.
Sveçla also mentioned that the Kosovo Police, in cooperation with other agencies and allied states, is sufficiently capable of managing the situation in the north.
“The FSK is maturing, strengthening, and proving capable of defending the country, ensuring that Kosovo remains an independent and sovereign state. We are showing continuous success, working hard, and receiving help from our allies. Changes are happening worldwide. Kosovo is not alone. We have Albania nearby and rely on the democratic world. Kosovo aspires to join the EU and NATO, unlike Serbia, which has declared neutrality, aligning with Russia. Serbia’s application to BRICS shows their orientation elsewhere. We would prefer a democratic neighbor rather than one that is a destabilizing factor. Of course, we are ready to deploy the army in case of a possible attack in northern Kosovo.
Unfortunately, there is an agreement or commitment from 2013, which states that the FSK can only enter these four northern municipalities with the permission of the KFOR commander. This is not only unfair but also strange. Nonetheless, this is the reality. It is good that the Police are proving sufficiently capable of controlling the situation there, definitely with the intelligence agency, other agencies, and with the help of our allies,” Sveçla said.
Security expert Dritan Goxhaj also spoke about a potential attack from Serbia, stating that KFOR, in close cooperation with FSK forces and a significant portion of the police forces, could prevent a major conflict.
He mentioned the necessary forces in case of a conflict, adding that initial forces would be sufficient, followed by additional support.
“In the event of an attack from Serbia, the current KFOR forces in Kosovo are not enough to prevent this attack alone. But in close cooperation with FSK forces and a significant portion of police forces, considering that KFOR has 4,500 forces, FSK 3,500, and around 9,000 armed police forces, making 17,000 forces, i.e., a division. Considering that Serbia has only 22,500 active forces and 2,000 active reserve forces, a total of 24,500. And in a potential attack, they would not be able to use more than 15-17 forces from this total of around 25,000 they possess, initially meaning that with 17,000 armed active personnel currently in Kosovo, any possible Serbian attack can be initially countered.”
“Later, NATO engagement or countries mentioned in the previous response, as well as the mobilization of former UCK members capable of fighting, can form a force of up to 5,000 men. Therefore, I believe that KFOR forces in Kosovo, together with Kosovo forces, can prevent any possible Serbian attack on Kosovo initially,” the expert declared.
When asked by “Bota sot” if the Kosovo Government should increase the number of recruits or make the army mandatory for future stability, Goxhaj said that FSK should double its number.
According to him, a force of 2,500-5,000 people training with FSK at least 45-90 days a year would be sufficient to counter any attack from Serbia.
“I believe that Kosovo should ask KFOR to allow the FSK to double its number. From 3,500 forces to 7,000 initially. I don’t believe mandatory service should be applied in Kosovo as it requires significant economic expenditures which Kosovo currently doesn’t have. But increasing the FSK to 12,000 active forces and creating active reserve forces, meaning a force of 2,500-5,000 people training with FSK at least 45-90 days a year, would be sufficient to counter any attack from Serbia and create stable security for Kosovo in the future,” Goxhaj added.
