Kosovo Tests Serbia With Vote To Build An Army
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published December 13, 2018 | 12:05 PM
Kosovo will vote Friday on whether to create its own army, in a heavily symbolic show of independence from Serbia that has inflamed tensions between the former wartime foes.
Pristina, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2018 ) :Kosovo will vote Friday on whether to create its own army, in a heavily symbolic show of independence from Serbia that has inflamed tensions between the former wartime foes.
Since breaking away from Belgrade in a guerilla war in the late 1990s, Kosovo has relied on NATO-led forces to guarantee its security.
But at the end of the week -- dubbed "Army week" by one Kosovo newspaper -- Pristina lawmakers will vote on legislation to transform its own lightly-armed emergency response force, known as Kosovo Security Force (KSF), into a professional army.
The measure is widely expected to pass as it draws support from all political parties in ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo, except for a minority of ethnic Serb MPs who have boycotted the sessions.
But there is outrage in Belgrade, which refuses to accept the former southern province's independence and has cast the army plans as a threat to the 120,000 Serbs still living in Kosovo.
Last week Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said she "hoped" Serbia would not need to use its army against Kosovo, though it is "one of the options on the table." Twenty years ago, 13,000 lives were lost -- mostly ethnic Albanians -- when Serb troops clashed with Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian independence fighters.
Serbian tabloids have warned of a possible new conflict, with the daily Informer stating "War with Kosovo will start on December 15", the day after the army vote.
But analysts say it is more likely to remain a war of words.
It will take up to a decade for the KSF to be combat-ready, according to officials.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
18 minutes ago -
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
28 minutes ago -
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
38 minutes ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
48 minutes ago -
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
2 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
2 hours ago
-
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
3 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
3 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
3 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
3 hours ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
3 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
4 hours ago