KFOR denies Kurti: We have not noticed nor been informed of any significant changes in the presence of the Serbian army near the border
Express newspaper
31/05/2025 16:18
Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci, in an interview for A2CNN television in Albania on May 27, stated that 70% of Serbia’s military capabilities are located near the border with Kosovo. His statement caused a stir and Maqedonci has also come out with a clarification, saying that it is not something new and that he has said it before, writes Gazeta Express.
However, the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, spoke on the same topic this week at a meeting of the Kosovo Government, where he claimed that the increased presence of Serbian forces on the border with Kosovo occurred as a reaction to the “Defender Europe” exercise that is also being held in Kosovo. Kurti said at the Government meeting that what they do not know is whether Russia has requested such a thing, or whether Serbia is doing it itself.
“We believe that the increased readiness and presence of the Serbian armed forces on our border is a reaction to ‘Defender Europe 2025’,” Kurti declared during the Government meeting on May 29, 2025.
But, in an exclusive response to Gazeta Express, KFOR denied the claims of increased Serbian military presence near the Kosovo border and said that KFOR continuously monitors activities along the border line with Serbia, and that they have not noticed or been notified of any significant recent changes in the presence of Serbian armed forces near the border with Kosovo. KFOR, because some NATO countries do not recognize Kosovo, continues to refer to the border as the “administrative border line”, not the border.
“KFOR continues to be present and monitor activities along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL), in accordance with its UN mandate, under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, to contribute to a safe and secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo. KFOR has not observed nor been informed of any significant recent changes in the presence of Serbian Armed Forces on the Administrative Boundary Line,” a KFOR official told Gazeta Express.
He further said that based on existing procedures, the Serbian army should regularly keep KFOR informed about the deployment of forces and their operational activities near the border with Kosovo.
“We expect this to continue and rely on their continued cooperation in this regard,” this KFOR official further told Gazeta Express.
At the end of the response, this KFOR official told Express that the KFOR Commander has regular communications with military authorities in the Western Balkan countries, which help increase mutual awareness of the situation.
“Since 2023, KFOR has significantly increased its presence and number of patrols on the Administrative Boundary Line. We remain well prepared to address any relevant security developments and steadfast in fulfilling our UN mandated mission,” this KFOR official concluded./GazetaExpress/