Priština says return of Serbian troops "unacceptable"

Kosovo Albanians find Belgrade's request for a return of the Serbian forces to the province unacceptable. Commenting on Prime Minister Kostunica adviser Aleksandar Simic’s statement that the Serbian troops should be sent back to the southern province, spokeswoman for the Kosovo government, Ulpiana Lama, said Saturday such a request was "absurd", adding that Serbs in the province were "in no danger whatsoever." Pristina says return of Serbian troops "unacceptable" According to her, the only danger for the Serbs in Kosovo lies in the policy coming from Belgrade. “Belgrade continues with pursuing the policy of pressure towards Serbs, cornering them into a position of isolation, segregation, and opposition to their integration into Kosovo’s society,” she said. “Once and for all, it is impossible for the Serbian uniforms to return to Kosovo,” Arben Cirezi, an adviser to the Kosovo prime minister, told Pristina daily Zeri. In his opinion, this request represents the last in a series of attempts coming from Belgrade to destabilize Kosovo. “A sane person with a minimum responsibility cannot regard the return of the Serbian military and police as a sensible option. The fate of Serbian forces in Kosovo was irreversibly sealed in 1999,” he said. Cirezi also stressed that such demands are a display of a complete lack of responsibility on the part of the Serbian regime. “The only way to achieve long-term stability in Kosovo and in the region is to recognize the province’s independence. By making this demand, Serbia has shown it no longer represents a partner to NATO and the European Union in search for stability” he added. “Day by day, one step at a time, current political regime in Belgrade is regressing to the main political principles of Milosevic’s era. It is high time the West decisively stated that the official Belgrade was playing with fire, and that its policy proves that additional status negotiations are futile,” Cirezi believes. Haxhiu: Foolish, dangerous, inhumane Pristina-based political analyst Baton Haxhiu sees Simic’s statement as "foolish, dangerous and inhumane." “It seems like the idea has originated from Milosevic’s reign. Who needs this sort of provocation,” he wondered, adding that the memory of the 1999 conflict was still very much alive. “Extremists are looking forward to something like this to happen so they can get blood on their hands,” Haxhiu told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik, without elaborating any further. He added that the statement calling for the redeployment of troops may be a test balloon, warning at the same time the situation was "too serious for playing such games". “Simic does not know what he is talking about. He sits in his Belgrade office, and it is almost unbelievable how he is out of touch with reality. He may put on his uniform and come by himself if he is so keen on returning, instead of sending children,” the newspaper quoted Haxhiu.

Priština says return of Serbian troops "unacceptable"

According to her, the only danger for the Serbs in Kosovo lies in the policy coming from Belgrade.

“Belgrade continues with pursuing the policy of pressure towards Serbs, cornering them into a position of isolation, segregation, and opposition to their integration into Kosovo’s society,” she said.

“Once and for all, it is impossible for the Serbian uniforms to return to Kosovo,” Arben Cirezi, an adviser to the Kosovo prime minister, told Priština daily Zeri.

In his opinion, this request represents the last in a series of attempts coming from Belgrade to destabilize Kosovo.

“A sane person with a minimum responsibility cannot regard the return of the Serbian military and police as a sensible option. The fate of Serbian forces in Kosovo was irreversibly sealed in 1999,” he said.

Cirezi also stressed that such demands are a display of a complete lack of responsibility on the part of the Serbian regime.

“The only way to achieve long-term stability in Kosovo and in the region is to recognize the province’s independence. By making this demand, Serbia has shown it no longer represents a partner to NATO and the European Union in search for stability” he added.

“Day by day, one step at a time, current political regime in Belgrade is regressing to the main political principles of Milošević’s era. It is high time the West decisively stated that the official Belgrade was playing with fire, and that its policy proves that additional status negotiations are futile,” Cirezi believes.

Haxhiu: Foolish, dangerous, inhumane

Priština-based political analyst Baton Haxhiu sees Simić’s statement as "foolish, dangerous and inhumane."

“It seems like the idea has originated from Milošević’s reign. Who needs this sort of provocation,” he wondered, adding that the memory of the 1999 conflict was still very much alive.

“Extremists are looking forward to something like this to happen so they can get blood on their hands,” Haxhiu told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik, without elaborating any further.

He added that the statement calling for the redeployment of troops may be a test balloon, warning at the same time the situation was "too serious for playing such games".

“Simić does not know what he is talking about. He sits in his Belgrade office, and it is almost unbelievable how he is out of touch with reality. He may put on his uniform and come by himself if he is so keen on returning, instead of sending children,” the newspaper quoted Haxhiu.