“Belgrade to be consulted on KFOR reduction”

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe U.S. Adm. James Stavridis has met in Belgrade with Serbian Army (VS) Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletić.

Stavridis was today quoted as saying during the talks that NATO’s force in Kosovo, KFOR, would consider all security aspects in Kosovo.

He also stated that when it comes to further reduction of KFOR troops, “Serbia will be consulted”, the Serbian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Miletić and Stavridis discussed the cooperation within Partnership for Peace (PfP) and orientation towards a maximum usage of the mechanisms included in the program.

They also discussed the cooperation between the Serbian Army and KFOR, and Miletić pointed out that “the envisaged dynamics of the reduction of KFOR troops makes room for instability in terms of security.”

Miletić “demanded that KFOR, in accordance with the obligations, provides protection of all the people living in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as of objects of historical, cultural and national importance for Serbia.”

Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac also met with Stavridis on Friday, the statement said.