Additional forces in Kosovo / Kurti for Associated Press: We need NATO, we are intertwined

2023-09-29 19:23:04, Kosova & Bota CNA

Additional forces in Kosovo / Kurti for Associated Press: We need NATO, we are

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has welcomed NATO's decision to increase the number of its troops in Kosovo.

According to Kurt, the attack on the Kosovo Police on September 24 illustrates Serbia's efforts to destabilize Kosovo, with the help of its ally, Russia.

"These people want to turn back time," Kurti told The Associated Press. "They are looking for a time machine. They want to go back 30 years. But this will not happen."

Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed in the attack on the Police in Banjska. Authorities said that during the clashes, three attackers were also killed.

On Friday, NATO, which has its own peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, said it would increase its forces in Kosovo.

"We need NATO because the border with Serbia is very long and the Serbian army is recently strengthening its capacities and they have a lot of military equipment, both from the Russian Federation and from China," Kurti said.

According to the Kosovo authorities, about 30 armed people attacked a police patrol near Banjska, while the police were trying to remove a barricade. Afterwards, the group took refuge in the monastery of Banjska, from where the fight with the Police continued.

"These persons who were masked, it is very likely... that they have contacts and communication with Russia, with the Kremlin", Kurti said. "People who want to become Wagner's mercenaries were trying to harm our police," he said, referring to the group of Russian mercenaries who have fought in Ukraine.

"This is also a violation for the presence of NATO, as NATO takes care of the security of our country", said Kurti. "The history of NATO and the history of Kosovo are intertwined", he added.

It is still not clear how many new troops NATO will send to Kosovo. About 700 troops were deployed from Turkey in June after dozens of KFOR members were injured during a clash with a group of Serb protesters in northern Kosovo.

KFOR currently has around 4,500 troops in Kosovo from 27 NATO countries and partner countries. This mission said earlier in the week that it is monitoring the security situation and will intervene if requested./ REL