PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s parliament on Friday overwhelmingly approved the formation of an army, angering Serbia which talked up the possibility of an armed intervention in response. The 120-seat parliament voted with all present 107 lawmakers in favor of passing three draft laws to expand an existing 4,000 Kosovo Security Force and turn it into a regular lightly armed army. Serbia insists that the new army violates a UN resolution that ended Kosovo’s 1998-1999 bloody war of independence. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move not recognized by Belgrade or its ally Russia. He said the alliance remains committed “to a safe and secure environment in Kosovo and to stability in the wider Western Balkans.” He said they will “re-examine the level of NATO’s engagement with the Kosovo Security Force.”The new army will preserve its former name — Kosovo Security Force — but now with a new mandate.

Source: Egypt Independent December 14, 2018 12:56 UTC