A day after Kosovo’s outgoing Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla alleged that “Serbian drones violated Kosovo’s airspace,” NATO-led KFOR told KoSSev it has not recorded such incidents.
“We have not identified drone violations that could affect security across Kosovo. The KFOR Commander has authority over Kosovo’s airspace, as per United Nations Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, so KFOR regularly monitors Kosovo’s airspace, through all of the means and assets at its disposal,” the mission said in a written response.
KFOR stressed it is “critical that all activities in the airspace, in particular close to the Administrative Boundary Line, is adequately coordinated with KFOR to prevent tensions and ensure security.” The mission added it remains in close contact with “Kosovo security organizations and the Serbian Armed Forces” and continues daily operations to preserve “a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo, in accordance with its long-standing UN mandate, at all times, impartially, and in close cooperation with the Kosovo Police and EULEX.”
Today, Serbia’s Chief of General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, received KFOR Commander Major General Angelo Enrico Barduani for a farewell meeting. Barduani is set to hand over command of the NATO-led peacekeeping force next month, the Serbian Ministry of Defense announced.
Sveçla had told KTV on Thursday that “from time to time there are unauthorized flights of Serbian drones over Kosovo” and that these cases are “professionally investigated in cooperation with KFOR and partner services.” He did not provide further details, except to say that critical infrastructure points are being identified and protective measures are being taken.
Gazmend Hoxha also backed Sveçla’s claims. Asked whether these alleged drone overflights were the reason KFOR recently declared the area of Kosovo’s Energy Corporation (KEK) a “no-fly zone,” Sveçla did not give a direct answer.
The outgoing minister also spoke about other issues, including the closure of Serbian-run institutions that Pristina refers to as “parallel structures” and the recent military parade in Belgrade, which he described as “a threat to Kosovo.”
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
