Creation of full-value army in Kosovo might lead to regional escalation - Putin
MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin has pointed to the passive attitude of the European Union to the plans to create a full-value army in Kosovo.
"I must admit we are surprised by quite a passive reaction of the European Union to the decision of the Kosovo 'parliament' to transform the Kosovo Security Force into a full-value army. Obviously, the Serbian population of this province will take this step as a direct threat to their security," Putin told the Serbian media outlets Politika and Vecernje Novosti in an interview.
This step "is fraught with serious risks of regional escalation," Putin said. "The European Union should hardly ignore such unilateral moves, which flagrantly violate international law, especially if Brussels hopes to continue to mediate the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina," he said.