Army: Serbian initiative matters

Serbian Army (VS) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponos does not expect NATO foreign ministers to discuss revision of the Kumanovo Agreement at today’s summit. Ponos told B92 that it was important that Serbia’s initiative to review the Kumanovo Agreement had been noted by NATO structures, even though, he said, he was not hopeful that it would be discussed at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers that begins today in Brussels. Army: Serbian initiative matters He said that he had launched the initiative to review the Kumanovo Agreement with NATO military officials 10 days ago, but that this was too short a period for NATO ministers to raise the issue for debate. The chief-of-staff said that what was left was for political consultations to take place, adding that his task had been to raise the issue at military level with those concerned. Ponos added that he had suggested to NATO officials that the process should start with experts from both sides discussing revision of the Kumanovo Agreement, highlighting what would be sensible to alter, and what would be acceptable for both sides. He said that Serbian Army HQ had been considering the idea of revising the Kumanovo Agreement for some time, as the situation on the ground was unsustainable. Ponos said that the Serbian Army could not launch any new initiatives, but could only give suggestions to those who had the authority and the political power to make such decisions. The lt.-gen. said that he had the authority to talk with NATO military structures and that NATO generals had had understanding for his proposal, since he had used “military terminology” about the situation on the ground. The changes came about when KFOR entered the process of establishing the so-called Kosovo Security Forces, which Serbia opposed, and when the decision was taken to deploy the EULEX mission in Kosovo, with Serbia’s consent. Ponos added that the 2,500-strong Kosovo Security Forces posed no threat to Serbia, though their formation was not founded on any regional or international agreement. He said that 10 years after the war in Kosovo, the situation in the Ground Safety Zone on the border with Kosovo had improved, as had Serbia’s military relations with the international forces in the province, adding that there was now a high level of understanding and trust. He said that the KFOR commander could now allow the VS to return to its post-1999 levels, adding that in the Air Safety Zone, restrictions on airspace for Serbian military aircraft still applied. Ponos said that for the Serbian Army, scrapping the restrictions in the Ground Safety Zone would mean full freedom of movement up to the administrative line with Kosovo, adding that it was a very high risk area. Redefinition of the Kumanovo agreement, that established the Ground Safety Zone between Kosovo and central Serbia has received the support of President Boris Tadic. The Kumanovo Agreement was signed on June 9, 1999, ending NATO air strikes against Serbia. The agreement ordered Serbia’s armed forces to withdraw from Kosovo. Zdravko Ponos (FoNet, archive) NATO FMs to consider EULEX deployment NATO foreign ministers are due to consider the possible forms of EULEX deployment over the next days in Brussels. Agencies report that the ministers will reiterate their support for the speedy deployment of the EU mission. They say that NATO ministers are convinced that, with a few minor exceptions, all sides in Kosovo are working towards ensuring that there are no further outbreaks of violence. For now, it is still not clear whether ministers will assess Belgrade’s proposal to alter the Kumanovo Agreement. Though there has been political tension recently, the situation on the ground has been stable, NATO is working on it and is certain that things can remain thus, said an Alliance representative. Asked by a reporter whether the meeting would broach the calls of Serbian President Boris Tadic and Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Zdravko Ponos to reassess the situation in the zone on the administrative line with Kosovo, the NATO official replied that there were no changes planned for the time being. He added that NATO was aware that Tadic and Ponos had raised the possibility of new talks or updating the military-technical agreement. “There was no discussion of this at NATO, nor any appraisals or decisions, and I can say that nothing has changed in this regard for now,“ the source from Brussels underlined, adding that NATO’s position on EULEX was that it should be deployed as soon as possible, throughout Kosovo, including in the north. NATO member-states have welcomed the UN’s decision to reconfigure the UNMIK and EULEX presence, said the source. NATO diplomatic sources have also hinted at a possible debate on reducing the KFOR contingent and scaling the mission’s role down to that of a deterrent. This is explained by the fact that EULEX is coming to Kosovo with the aim of underpinning the role of law, while UNMIK will remain in the province in a revamped form. NATO has yet to debate the Serbian proposal to alter the Kumanovo Agreement, said NATO spokesman James Appathurai.

Army: Serbian initiative matters

He said that he had launched the initiative to review the Kumanovo Agreement with NATO military officials 10 days ago, but that this was too short a period for NATO ministers to raise the issue for debate.

The chief-of-staff said that what was left was for political consultations to take place, adding that his task had been to raise the issue at military level with those concerned.

Ponoš added that he had suggested to NATO officials that the process should start with experts from both sides discussing revision of the Kumanovo Agreement, highlighting what would be sensible to alter, and what would be acceptable for both sides.

He said that Serbian Army HQ had been considering the idea of revising the Kumanovo Agreement for some time, as the situation on the ground was unsustainable.

Ponoš said that the Serbian Army could not launch any new initiatives, but could only give suggestions to those who had the authority and the political power to make such decisions.

The lt.-gen. said that he had the authority to talk with NATO military structures and that NATO generals had had understanding for his proposal, since he had used “military terminology” about the situation on the ground.

The changes came about when KFOR entered the process of establishing the so-called Kosovo Security Forces, which Serbia opposed, and when the decision was taken to deploy the EULEX mission in Kosovo, with Serbia’s consent.

Ponoš added that the 2,500-strong Kosovo Security Forces posed no threat to Serbia, though their formation was not founded on any regional or international agreement.

He said that 10 years after the war in Kosovo, the situation in the Ground Safety Zone on the border with Kosovo had improved, as had Serbia’s military relations with the international forces in the province, adding that there was now a high level of understanding and trust.

He said that the KFOR commander could now allow the VS to return to its post-1999 levels, adding that in the Air Safety Zone, restrictions on airspace for Serbian military aircraft still applied.

Ponoš said that for the Serbian Army, scrapping the restrictions in the Ground Safety Zone would mean full freedom of movement up to the administrative line with Kosovo, adding that it was a very high risk area.

Redefinition of the Kumanovo agreement, that established the Ground Safety Zone between Kosovo and central Serbia has received the support of President Boris Tadić.

The Kumanovo Agreement was signed on June 9, 1999, ending NATO air strikes against Serbia. The agreement ordered Serbia’s armed forces to withdraw from Kosovo.

NATO FMs to consider EULEX deployment

NATO foreign ministers are due to consider the possible forms of EULEX deployment over the next days in Brussels.

Agencies report that the ministers will reiterate their support for the speedy deployment of the EU mission.

They say that NATO ministers are convinced that, with a few minor exceptions, all sides in Kosovo are working towards ensuring that there are no further outbreaks of violence. For now, it is still not clear whether ministers will assess Belgrade’s proposal to alter the Kumanovo Agreement.

Though there has been political tension recently, the situation on the ground has been stable, NATO is working on it and is certain that things can remain thus, said an Alliance representative.

Asked by a reporter whether the meeting would broach the calls of Serbian President Boris Tadić and Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Zdravko Ponoš to reassess the situation in the zone on the administrative line with Kosovo, the NATO official replied that there were no changes planned for the time being.

He added that NATO was aware that Tadić and Ponoš had raised the possibility of new talks or updating the military-technical agreement.

“There was no discussion of this at NATO, nor any appraisals or decisions, and I can say that nothing has changed in this regard for now,“ the source from Brussels underlined, adding that NATO’s position on EULEX was that it should be deployed as soon as possible, throughout Kosovo, including in the north.

NATO member-states have welcomed the UN’s decision to reconfigure the UNMIK and EULEX presence, said the source.

NATO diplomatic sources have also hinted at a possible debate on reducing the KFOR contingent and scaling the mission’s role down to that of a deterrent. This is explained by the fact that EULEX is coming to Kosovo with the aim of underpinning the role of law, while UNMIK will remain in the province in a revamped form.

NATO has yet to debate the Serbian proposal to alter the Kumanovo Agreement, said NATO spokesman James Appathurai.