UN Security Council To Gather Monday For Discussing Kosovo's Army Creation - Source

Sumaira FH Published December 15, 2018 | 10:00 AM

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2018) The UN Security Council will gather for a session dedicated to the creation of an army by the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo on Monday, a source in the Russian mission to the United Nations told Sputnik.

On Friday, Kosovar lawmakers passed three draft laws providing for the change of the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and its transformation into the republic's national army. The Kosovar army will include 5,000 soldiers and 3,000 reservists. The move was opposed by the Serbian government, which has not recognized the independence of Kosovo. Belgrade said it would request a UNSC meeting on the issue.

"Russia and Serbia have requested to convene the UNSC meeting on Monday due to the situation around the decision of the so-called parliament in Pristina to turn the armed forces in Kosovo into a full-fledged military, which contradicts the [UNSC] 1244 resolution, stipulating that only international forces should be present in Kosovo," the source said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic plans to arrive in New York for attending the meeting, according to the source.

The source noted that the western countries had not opposed the meeting but suggested that it be held in the closed format.

"Due to this difference of views, the consensus was not achieved and the decision was made that the chairman of the Security Council � the permanent representative of Cote d'Ivoire [Kacou Houadja Leon Adom] � will continue consultations with the sides until Monday," the source pointed out.

Kosovo's move to create the army was criticized not only by Belgrade but by NATO as well, with the alliance's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, saying that such actions were "ill-timed."

Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by over a hundred UN member states. The move was not, however, recognized by Serbia and two permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China.