BELGRADE -- Serbia will seek the abolishing of the Ground and Air Safety Zones through a revision of the Kumanovo agreement, the army chief says.
Source: Beta, Blic
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Serbian Army (VS) Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš told Blic newspaper in an interview on Sunday that he received signals and confirmation that NATO is ready to start expert talks on the subject.
The return of Serbian troops "even to northern Kosovo", according to the daily's article, is not a subject of negotiations at this point.
"In Brussels, I held talks with NATO commander-in.chief General Craddock, while in Naples I met with Admiral Fitzgerald, and told them that the Kumanovo agreement, nine years after the war, no longer makes sense, and that there should be no buffer zone between NATO and Serbian Army forces," Ponoš told the daily.
"In the meantime, we joined the Partnership for Peace, signed the security agreement and demonstrated that we respect the Kumanovo agreement and Resolution 1244 provisions, there has not been a single, not even unintentional, breach of the administrative line from our side for the past four years, and the VS has established a high level of trust with KFOR."
That trust, however, declined with NATO's decision to have KFOR engaged in the setting up of the so-called Kosovo security forces, Ponoš said, and added that it is now up to NATO to make a move "that would demonstrate that Serbia is treated like a partner".
The army chief said that there are "many security risks inside the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, but that their nature is not such that they should be solved with primary use of military force".
"The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power, and is outside the Vienna agreements on arms control, and the Deyton accords. President Tadić's position about an increase, instead of a decrease in the number of troops certainly carries a political message that Serbia, a key country in the region, must be an active participant in all processes," Ponoš said.
Kosova army will be exceptionally trained to match any agression from outside.
(EA, 30 November 2008 16:08)
Bahaha best joke ive heard in long time, KLA did nothing to serbs but attack civilians and thats a FACT, serbian army had you hiding in Northern Albania and bombing a few places now and again they you claimed genocide which has been proven too be false, and ask me this only pics and videos of KLA you see are when serb army left and you began to attack those who could not defend themselves like in 2004, blowing up buses with serb civilians going to church
What a proud and noble army you have its a joke just like you so called country when america is weak and cant not protect then will see who has best army
p.s. do you have an air force cause we do haha
(vuk, 1 December 2008 04:45)
Let any Albanian ask me this ok, you accuse serbs off genocide and how milosevic is back from the grave propaganda???
But i tell you this you attacked your own muslim roma and ashkali brothers as well as gorani and bosniaks living in Kosovo and other albanians you killed. NOT SERBS!!!
Albanians hiden behind NATO and making threats. When are you going to realize that albanians
are not at factor in this region? NATO is negotiating with the serbs, not the albanians. Besides you can talk
as much as you want. What the EU/America and Serbia decides is what counts. You my albanian "friends" have
no say. And Kosovo albanians will never have a real army since you don't even have a real country.
(MikeC, 30 November 2008 23:52)
It is my understanding that Serbian MUP are allowed into the buffer zone. And military units can accompany them for short periods of time if they are under MUP control. Which is why we saw Serbian tanks drive right up to the border last Feb.
But they cannot conduct prolonged operations in that zone or take static positions.
(Eric (USA), 30 November 2008 23:51)
A deal should be done on condition they help in the Afgan Helmand region. The Serb armed forces have alot to offer and experience in dealing with terror groups (KLA).
I can remember on the UK news after the bomding of Serbia the Serb armed forces came rolling out of Kosovo with there tanks etc, didnt looked defeated to me.
Tadic has proved Serbia is for the EU. Serbs troops should be allowwed into Northern Kosovo under a UN/EU mandate and other Serb areas as well. After all KOsovo is now an EU controlled province.
EA Kosovo is already weak, you exist because of NATO no other reason
(DAVE (uk), 30 November 2008 21:36)
The buffer zone was set for a reason, namely to keep away the forces that conducted deliberate violence and destruction against civilians in Kosova(o) on orders from the Serbian Government. The commanding stuff composition has remained almost the same also 8 years thereafter. The official policy of the Serbian Government towards Kosova(o) has remained the same, so the buffer zone is more necessary than ever.
“The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power…” said Mr. Ponoš. Actually a fair balance of forces is being restored. Far too long had Serbia a military might in the Balkans and what did it make out of it? It only destroyed its neighbours, starting in Slovenia and ending it in Kosova(o).
(Simple Mind, 30 November 2008 20:49)
I was under the impression that the 5km buffer zone was already abolished over a year ago and that Serbian Security forces have retaken control there. Anyone?
(Janko, 30 November 2008 19:41)
"The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power"
Serbia is interested to have Kosova as weak as possible in any aspect, disarmed and so it can do whatever it likes with it as it has done in the past. THIS TIME HAS GONE FOR GOOD! Kosova should have its own army to defend its territory as soon as NATO might consider to leave. With the experiance gained in the guerrila war, Kosova army will be exceptionally trained to match any agression from outside.
(EA, 30 November 2008 16:08)
"The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power"
Serbia is interested to have Kosova as weak as possible in any aspect, disarmed and so it can do whatever it likes with it as it has done in the past. THIS TIME HAS GONE FOR GOOD! Kosova should have its own army to defend its territory as soon as NATO might consider to leave. With the experiance gained in the guerrila war, Kosova army will be exceptionally trained to match any agression from outside.
(EA, 30 November 2008 16:08)
A deal should be done on condition they help in the Afgan Helmand region. The Serb armed forces have alot to offer and experience in dealing with terror groups (KLA).
I can remember on the UK news after the bomding of Serbia the Serb armed forces came rolling out of Kosovo with there tanks etc, didnt looked defeated to me.
Tadic has proved Serbia is for the EU. Serbs troops should be allowwed into Northern Kosovo under a UN/EU mandate and other Serb areas as well. After all KOsovo is now an EU controlled province.
EA Kosovo is already weak, you exist because of NATO no other reason
(DAVE (uk), 30 November 2008 21:36)
Albanians hiden behind NATO and making threats. When are you going to realize that albanians
are not at factor in this region? NATO is negotiating with the serbs, not the albanians. Besides you can talk
as much as you want. What the EU/America and Serbia decides is what counts. You my albanian "friends" have
no say. And Kosovo albanians will never have a real army since you don't even have a real country.
(MikeC, 30 November 2008 23:52)
Kosova army will be exceptionally trained to match any agression from outside.
(EA, 30 November 2008 16:08)
Bahaha best joke ive heard in long time, KLA did nothing to serbs but attack civilians and thats a FACT, serbian army had you hiding in Northern Albania and bombing a few places now and again they you claimed genocide which has been proven too be false, and ask me this only pics and videos of KLA you see are when serb army left and you began to attack those who could not defend themselves like in 2004, blowing up buses with serb civilians going to church
What a proud and noble army you have its a joke just like you so called country when america is weak and cant not protect then will see who has best army
p.s. do you have an air force cause we do haha
(vuk, 1 December 2008 04:45)
Let any Albanian ask me this ok, you accuse serbs off genocide and how milosevic is back from the grave propaganda???
But i tell you this you attacked your own muslim roma and ashkali brothers as well as gorani and bosniaks living in Kosovo and other albanians you killed. NOT SERBS!!!
The buffer zone was set for a reason, namely to keep away the forces that conducted deliberate violence and destruction against civilians in Kosova(o) on orders from the Serbian Government. The commanding stuff composition has remained almost the same also 8 years thereafter. The official policy of the Serbian Government towards Kosova(o) has remained the same, so the buffer zone is more necessary than ever.
“The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power…” said Mr. Ponoš. Actually a fair balance of forces is being restored. Far too long had Serbia a military might in the Balkans and what did it make out of it? It only destroyed its neighbours, starting in Slovenia and ending it in Kosova(o).
(Simple Mind, 30 November 2008 20:49)
I was under the impression that the 5km buffer zone was already abolished over a year ago and that Serbian Security forces have retaken control there. Anyone?
(Janko, 30 November 2008 19:41)
It is my understanding that Serbian MUP are allowed into the buffer zone. And military units can accompany them for short periods of time if they are under MUP control. Which is why we saw Serbian tanks drive right up to the border last Feb.
But they cannot conduct prolonged operations in that zone or take static positions.
(Eric (USA), 30 November 2008 23:51)
"The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power"
Serbia is interested to have Kosova as weak as possible in any aspect, disarmed and so it can do whatever it likes with it as it has done in the past. THIS TIME HAS GONE FOR GOOD! Kosova should have its own army to defend its territory as soon as NATO might consider to leave. With the experiance gained in the guerrila war, Kosova army will be exceptionally trained to match any agression from outside.
(EA, 30 November 2008 16:08)
The buffer zone was set for a reason, namely to keep away the forces that conducted deliberate violence and destruction against civilians in Kosova(o) on orders from the Serbian Government. The commanding stuff composition has remained almost the same also 8 years thereafter. The official policy of the Serbian Government towards Kosova(o) has remained the same, so the buffer zone is more necessary than ever.
“The establishment of the so-called Kosovo security forces, although lightly armed, formally disturbs the regional balance of power…” said Mr. Ponoš. Actually a fair balance of forces is being restored. Far too long had Serbia a military might in the Balkans and what did it make out of it? It only destroyed its neighbours, starting in Slovenia and ending it in Kosova(o).
(Simple Mind, 30 November 2008 20:49)
A deal should be done on condition they help in the Afgan Helmand region. The Serb armed forces have alot to offer and experience in dealing with terror groups (KLA).
I can remember on the UK news after the bomding of Serbia the Serb armed forces came rolling out of Kosovo with there tanks etc, didnt looked defeated to me.
Tadic has proved Serbia is for the EU. Serbs troops should be allowwed into Northern Kosovo under a UN/EU mandate and other Serb areas as well. After all KOsovo is now an EU controlled province.
EA Kosovo is already weak, you exist because of NATO no other reason
(DAVE (uk), 30 November 2008 21:36)
Albanians hiden behind NATO and making threats. When are you going to realize that albanians
are not at factor in this region? NATO is negotiating with the serbs, not the albanians. Besides you can talk
as much as you want. What the EU/America and Serbia decides is what counts. You my albanian "friends" have
no say. And Kosovo albanians will never have a real army since you don't even have a real country.
(MikeC, 30 November 2008 23:52)
Let any Albanian ask me this ok, you accuse serbs off genocide and how milosevic is back from the grave propaganda???
But i tell you this you attacked your own muslim roma and ashkali brothers as well as gorani and bosniaks living in Kosovo and other albanians you killed. NOT SERBS!!!
It is my understanding that Serbian MUP are allowed into the buffer zone. And military units can accompany them for short periods of time if they are under MUP control. Which is why we saw Serbian tanks drive right up to the border last Feb.
But they cannot conduct prolonged operations in that zone or take static positions.
(Eric (USA), 30 November 2008 23:51)
Kosova army will be exceptionally trained to match any agression from outside.
(EA, 30 November 2008 16:08)
Bahaha best joke ive heard in long time, KLA did nothing to serbs but attack civilians and thats a FACT, serbian army had you hiding in Northern Albania and bombing a few places now and again they you claimed genocide which has been proven too be false, and ask me this only pics and videos of KLA you see are when serb army left and you began to attack those who could not defend themselves like in 2004, blowing up buses with serb civilians going to church
What a proud and noble army you have its a joke just like you so called country when america is weak and cant not protect then will see who has best army
p.s. do you have an air force cause we do haha
(vuk, 1 December 2008 04:45)
I was under the impression that the 5km buffer zone was already abolished over a year ago and that Serbian Security forces have retaken control there. Anyone?
(Janko, 30 November 2008 19:41)