Creation Of Kosovo 'Army' Fraught With Recurrence Of Regional Armed Conflict - Moscow

The formation of the Kosovo "army" is fraught with recurrence of an armed conflict in the region, the decision grossly violates the UN Security Council's resolution and aims to aggravate the situation in the Balkans, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th December, 2018) The formation of the Kosovo "army" is fraught with recurrence of an armed conflict in the region, the decision grossly violates the UN Security Council's resolution and aims to aggravate the situation in the Balkans, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

Earlier on Friday, the parliament of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo passed a set of laws providing for the change of mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and its transformation into the republic's national army.

"In Pristina, on December 14, the 'parliament' decided to transform the Kosovo Security Force into a full-fledged Kosovo 'army'. This step was a gross violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, aimed at seriously aggravating the situation in the Balkans, fraught with a recurrence of an armed conflict in the region," the ministry said.

It said the EU's mediating role in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue had failed, adding that Moscow hoped international forces in Kosovo would take measures to disband the so-called Kosovo 'army'.