Escalating situation in the Western Balkans: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (52) has brought the Serbian armed forces and all units to the highest level of combat readiness.
“The Serbian president, as commander-in-chief, ordered tonight that the Serbian armed forces should be at the highest level of combat readiness, ie ready for the use of armed force,” said Vucevic. The aim of the order to the army is “to protect all Serb civilians and to prevent pogroms and terror against Serbs,” the defense minister said.
Serbian Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic explained that the order would also place the police and all security forces under the command of the Chief of Staff and “take the positions provided for in the deployment plan”.
Alleged retaliation
The presidential order would be in response to a measure taken by Pristina to deny Serbian patriarch Porphyry (61) entry to the country. Vucic felt it necessary to take all measures to protect the Serbian people “after the Albanians had armed themselves and increased their combat readiness,” the Tanjug news agency quoted him as saying.
Rapid deterioration of the situation
President Vucic had already ordered the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to the border area on Sunday evening. The situation at the border is “complicated and complex” and requires “the presence of the Serbian army in the near future,” the Serbian General Staff said. This after reports of a firefight between Serbian and Kosovar units. (kes)