Serbia to demand return of its armed forces to Kosovo

BELGRADE, Serbia

Serbia announced Friday that it would demand its armed forces return to Kosovo, where tensions are rising between ethnic Serbs and the government.

The announcement by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic came after Kosovo began beefing up its police presence late on Thursday in the country's north, which is home to a substantial Serb community.

Belgrade harshly criticized the move as an attempt to invade the north of the country and violating the Brussels Agreement, a 2013 deal to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

"That's why we are very close to it ... Because the KFOR (NATO's Kosovo Force) is not doing its job and the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija can't feel safe. Their lives are in danger there, including children in kindergartens," said Brnabic.

She underlined that Serbia would demand that Kosovo comply in full with the 1999 UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which allows a certain UN and Serb force to be deployed in Kosovo, such as clearing minefields, and maintaining a presence at Serb patrimonial sites and key border crossings.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is expected to address the nation during the day on the issue.

Explosions in northern Kosovo

Ahead of early local elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo on Dec. 18, explosions and sirens were heard in some cities on Tuesday.

Forces affiliated with the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) had increased their presence on the Iberian Bridge connecting the southern and northern sides of the city of Mitrovica.

Officials of the Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ) went to their offices in the north, accompanied by local police but were unable to enter.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared last month when ethnic Serbs in Kosovo withdrew from all central and local institutions to protest the decision to replace car license plates issued by Serbian authorities with those from Kosovo.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, with most UN member states including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Türkiye recognizing it as a separate autonomous country from its neighbor.

But, Serbia continues to insist that Kosovo is its territory.