ANA threatens to set control over Kosovo areas populated by Serbs
Itar-Tass - October 16, 2007 Tuesday 3:59 PM EST

BELGRADE October 16 - The so-called Albanian National Army (ANA) threatens to establish control over Kosovo northern areas, populated by Serbs. "Official representative" of this terrorist organisation Gafur Adili said on Tuesday in an interview with the Pristina-based newspaper Epoka e re that the ANA would establish control over northern Kosovo if this is not done by the KFOR, the UN Mission and the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) by November 1.

In real fact, the UN administration and the KFOR fully control Kosovo since 1999, including the northern part of the province. However, the Serb population in the north of the province, separated by the Ibar River, introduced partial self-government and does not participate virtually in the work of Albanian power structures, including those formed by elections.

The KPC, to which Adili appealed, is a paramilitary structure with a numerical strength of 5,000, formed in 2000 on a decision of the UN Mission. It was made up mostly of gunmen of the former "Kosovo Liberation Army" (KLA). The KPC is officially charged with functions of overcoming aftermaths of natural calamities and emergency situations. However, in actual fact it is regarded by the Albanian authorities as the core for forming armed forces in the province.

In 2003, the UN Mission announced the ANA a terrorist organisation after two of its gunmen had died in an attempt to mine a rail siding to northern Kosovo. All in all, the ANA assumed responsibility for a dozen of terror acts and attacks on police and military units in Macedonia and southern Serbia.

The main aim, proclaimed by the ANA, is to create "Grand Albania" which would include Albania proper and parts of Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Montenegro. There is no exact information on the army's numerical strength, armaments and sources of funding.

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