Vucevic dismisses Pristina's claims Belgrade armed, trained Kosovo-Metohija Serbs

BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic on Monday dismissed as untrue Pristina's accusations Belgrade had armed and trained Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

"As evidence, (Pristina's PM Albin) Kurti is using seized weapons and military equipment they have displayed in the past few days, pointing out that the weapons and the military equipment were made in Serbia, by our defence industry," Vucevic told a press conference with Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic.

He displayed several photos showing the so-called Kosovo Police carrying Serbian-made weapons, and asked the Pristina authorities whether, by the same logic, Serbia had also armed and trained the so-called Kosovo Police, too.

"What are they going to do about the fact the 'Kosovo Police' uses our weapons? Their special forces use our rifles. The photos show their special forces units with rifles made in Serbia - we have certainly not armed them. How come ethnic Albanians have Serbian weapons?" Vucevic said.

He said the same types of weapons and military equipment could be found across the territory of the former Yugoslavia and that it was "completely stupid" to claim this was evidence of Serbia's involvement in what some had called "terrorist acts."

Vucevic also said the Serbian Armed Forces had never entered the territory of Kosovo-Metohija but would do so if they received an order from the Serbian president and their commander-in-chief.

They would execute all their tasks efficiently and successfully but, in that case, Kfor would be notified first, he said.

"The Serbian Armed Forces believe greater Kfor presence must be ensured, which would boost the safety of our people in Kosovo-Metohija. The cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and Kfor is good and continuous, in line with UNSC Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo Military Technical Agreement, and proceeding on an almost daily basis. We cooperate at all levels - from the chief of general staff to the commission for implementation of the Military Technical Agreement," Vucevic said.