No armed groups in Kosovo, KFOR claims

A deputy spokesman for KFOR said Thursday that KFOR did not have any information about the existence of any armed groups in Kosovo. KFOR Deputy Spokesman Mark Stimmler said that KFOR was not aware of any evidence showing that there were either more or less armed individuals in Kosovo than what was usual. No armed groups in Kosovo, KFOR claims Commenting on the demand from Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic, who urged the international community representatives to investigate if there were any armed extremist groups in the Kosovo north, the deputy spokesman told Tanjug that KFOR had not received any request to conduct a relevant investigation. On Wednesday, Bogdanovic called on the international community to investigate if there were any armed extremist groups in the Kosovo north and to disarm them if they found them. The minister for Kosovo told Zvecan-based TV Most that that there were a number of videos posted on the internet showing civilians armed with long “tubes” in northern Kosovo and that it should be investigated. He added that it was a result of Pristina's attempts to take over the control of the north through violent unilateral moves. Stimmler quoted KFOR Commander Erhard Drews as saying Wednesday that the situation in the Kosovo north was getting tense with the approaching of the Serbian elections and urged all parties to preserve peace. The KFOR commander said that the tension had increased and that the situation was likely to remain that way until the elections. “KFOR strengthened its presence in the north to make sure peace is kept,” he added. KFOR deployed its soldiers to the northern, Serb side of the city of Kosovska Mitrovica with the mission to ensure peace is kept there. KFOR troops at the Jarinje crossing (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

No armed groups in Kosovo, KFOR claims

Commenting on the demand from Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović, who urged the international community representatives to investigate if there were any armed extremist groups in the Kosovo north, the deputy spokesman told Tanjug that KFOR had not received any request to conduct a relevant investigation.

On Wednesday, Bogdanović called on the international community to investigate if there were any armed extremist groups in the Kosovo north and to disarm them if they found them.

The minister for Kosovo told Zvečan-based TV Most that that there were a number of videos posted on the internet showing civilians armed with long “tubes” in northern Kosovo and that it should be investigated.

He added that it was a result of Priština's attempts to take over the control of the north through violent unilateral moves.

Stimmler quoted KFOR Commander Erhard Drews as saying Wednesday that the situation in the Kosovo north was getting tense with the approaching of the Serbian elections and urged all parties to preserve peace.

The KFOR commander said that the tension had increased and that the situation was likely to remain that way until the elections.

“KFOR strengthened its presence in the north to make sure peace is kept,” he added.

KFOR deployed its soldiers to the northern, Serb side of the city of Kosovska Mitrovica with the mission to ensure peace is kept there.