15.06.2023.
Communiqué
In order to provide truthful information to the public, the Ministry of Defence announces that the Serbian Armed Forces did not take part in yesterday’s arrest of three armed members of the so-called "Kosovo Police".
The remarks made by the Prime Minister of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Priština insinuating that members of the Serbian Armed Forces were involved in the "kidnapping of three Kosovo police officers" in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija are a mere continuation of the Priština authorities’ campaign of lies, manipulation and unlawful violence against the Serbs.
The Serbian Armed Forces are involved in keeping control of the Ground Safety Zone and protecting the administrative boundary line with Kosovo and Metohija in full compliance with UNSC Resolution 1244, the Military Technical Agreement and all other signed agreements. While performing these tasks, the Serbian Armed Forces closely cooperate with other security forces of the Republic of Serbia and KFOR, with whom they maintain professional contact at all levels for the sake of monitoring the situation on the ground and preserving a safe and secure environment.
In accordance with the Military Technical Agreement, which stipulates that the international security force should be deployed in our southern province, agreements were signed specifying which activities should be carried out by KFOR and the security forces of the Republic of Serbia on both sides along the administrative boundary line with Kosovo and Metohija.
These include the Agreement on temporary operating procedures for ensuring cooperation and coordination on both sides along the administrative boundary line with Kosovo and Metohija and instructions for the implementation thereof.
The aforementioned agreement has authorized the forces of the Republic of Serbia to be in the Ground Safety Zone, it has established procedures for ensuring cooperation and coordination and for overcoming conflicts and allows the parties to the agreement to prevent illegal crossings of the administrative boundary line.
These agreements do not recognize forces other than KFOR and members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the police, which means that the presence of other armed persons or formations in the vicinity of the administrative boundary line is not allowed.
The Serbian Armed Forces strongly condemn all attempts to destabilize the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija, remaining firmly committed to performing their missions and tasks in the Ground Safety Zone in a professional and responsible manner and in accordance with all signed agreements with the aim of preserving peace and stability.
