Serbian army at Kosovo border cannot do anything: Albanian premier

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA): Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has said that the strength of the Serbian army on the border with Kosovo is “zero” and cannot do anything about the developments in Kosovo.

Rama’s remarks came at the Bratislava Global Security Forum (GLOBSEC) in the capital of Slovakia, amid rising tensions in northern Kosovo.

He said that Serbia deploying its army to the Kosovo border is the same as the Mexican army on the US border.

“This is just like the Mexican army appearing on the US border, what can it do? I beg your pardon, I love Mexico, but what can it do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. It’s just about domestic politics. What is happening in the north of Kosovo is very much related to domestic politics,” said Rama.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“The current situation is dangerous and unsustainable. We need urgent de-escalation and a solution through dialogue,” said Borrell after the meeting.

Serbia ordered its army Friday to advance to the administrative border with Kosovo and urged NATO to urgently stop violence against local Serbs in Kosovo.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic urged the army and security forces to be combat-ready.

Most UN member states, including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Türkiye, recognized Kosovo as a separate country after it declared independence from Serbia in 1998. Serbia, however, continues to regard it as its territory.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday announced the deployment of an additional 700 troops in Kosovo due to the ongoing tensions.