BELGRADE SHOULD PROTEST TO NATO OVER MILITARY EXERCISE IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

BELGRADE, JUNE 19 /SRNA/ - The Socialist Movement of Aleksandar Vulin has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia to lodge a protest with NATO over the military exercise "Europe Defender 25" being held in Kosovo and Metohija, hosted by the so-called Kosovo army.

The party’s statement reads that the Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs should also request an explanation from UNMIK about what kind of army is conducting exercises in Kosovo and Metohija, and what kind of army is acting as host when such a force is not foreseen by UN Security Council Resolution 1244. "As long as NATO does not suspend every exercise with the illegal Shqiptare paramilitary force, our country should suspend all military exercises with NATO," the statement emphasized. The Socialist Movement assesses it is unacceptable to strengthen the so-called Kosovo army, whose only purpose is the expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, while at the same time conducting joint exercises with the Serbian Army. "If we remain silent, no one else will speak for us," the Socialist Movement stated, reacting to the NATO-led military exercise. The statement also pointed out that the exercise is being held on the same day that, in 1999, the Yugoslav Army fought a difficult and victorious battle on Paštrik. "In this exercise, 29 NATO member states with 25,000 soldiers are training near Đakovica - a place they couldn’t reach under fire 26 years ago. The criminals have returned to the scene of the crime," the Socialist Movement said.