Serbia slams, Kosovo welcomes U.S. arms delivery

BELGRADE, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Serbia slammed on Thursday the U.S. decision to deliver arms to the breakaway province of Kosovo, while the Kosovo authorities regarded the move as positively.

Serbian outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica slammed the move as a "new and gravely mistaken step taken by the U.S. following the illegal recognition of its (Kosovo's) unilateral independence," the official Tanjug news agency reported.

"There are already too many weapons in Kosovo and Metohija and, instead of further arming the ethnic Albanians, it would be much better if America were to return to respect of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter," Kostunica said in an interview with the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti.

"No new weapons are required for Kosovo, but new negotiations. Because, it is quite certain that the re-establishment of international law in the Balkans, and not the sending of weaponry, presents the pathway that guarantees the preservation of peace and stability in the region," he said, warning that "the Serbian people are watching with bitterness and recording in memory the policy of force that the USA is implementing against Serbia".

While on Kosovo's side, the move got positive comments from the Kosovo authorities as expected.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said it helps Kosovo "to move forward as a unique state, in order to be an important NATO partner in the future," adding that Kosovo will cooperate in all aspects for a modern Kosovo.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said Washington and Pristina have special and excellent relations.

"The support for U.S. presence in KFOR and for NATO troops here, is in the highest level in the world," he said.

Since June 1999, a NATO-led peacekeeping mission (KFOR) is the only heavily armed authority in Kosovo. Around 4,000 ex-members of Kosovo Liberation Army were transformed to Kosovo Protection Corps(KPC), whose task is to intervene in emergency cases.

Kosovo's majority Albanians sees KPC as next Kosovo Army. According to UN envoy for Kosovo Marti Ahtisaari's plan, a new professional and multi-ethnic Kosovo Security Force will consist of no more than 2,500 active and 800 reserve members.

While Kosovo Serbs expressed concern over the U.S. decision to send arms to Kosovo.

The leader of Serb Council in Mitrovica Nebojsa Jovic said in a statement that the U.S. action is malicious and extremely dangerous, calling on the United Nations and Russia to stop the U.S. armament of Kosovo.

In a memorandum for the Secretary of State on Wednesday, U.S. President George W. Bush said that "the furnishing of defense articles and defense services to Kosovo will strengthen the security of the United States and promote world peace."

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17. By Thursday, 33 countries have formally recognized Kosovo independence, including the United States, Canada, Japan, and 18 EU members. Serbia and its ally Russia strongly oppose Kosovo unilateral declaration of independence.