Belgrade says army prepared to help protect Serbs in Kosovo B92

Belgrade says army prepared to help protect Serbs in Kosovo
B92 - March 18, 2004

BELGRADE -- Thursday – Serbia-Montenegro’s defence minister has said that the army is ready, with the agreement of the NATO-led peacekeepers force in Kosovo (KFOR), to participate in the protection of Serbs in the province, after violent clashes erupted leaving 18 people dead.

“We have expressed readiness to participate in the protection of our citizens, respecting international obligations,” Boris Tadic said early this morning following an emergency meeting of the Serbia-Montenegro Supreme Defence Council.

Tadic said he had proposed to the NATO commander in Kosovo that Serbia-Montenegro troops be allowed to protect Serbs in Kosovo, their property and cultural and historical monuments.

“The situation is more than an emergency and demands heightened security measures,” said the defence minister, adding that all “hot-lines” were open to NATO, the United Nations and Brussels.

Tadic said it was possible that the UN Security Council, which is due to sit today to discuss the situation in the UN-governed province, take a decision on how the Serbia-Montenegro military could be used to protect Serbs. He ruled out any “unilateral” action or violations of international agreement.

A statement from the Supreme Defence Council meeting called KFOR and the UN mission in Pristina to protect the lives of Serbs and Montenegrins and their property in Kosovo.

Tadic said that the situation in the ground security zone, a thin strip of land along the administrative border with Kosovo, was calm. The minister said he had information on movements of “Albanian terrorists” in the area and the situation was being watched closely.