The British Embassy in Belgrade on Tuesday denied reports by several media outlets in Serbia about alleged arms exports from the UK to Kosovo, labelling them as totally bogus.
“Certain Belgrade media outlets have published a complete fabrication about the export of arms from the United Kingdom to Kosovo. There is not a shred of truth in these reports,” according to the announcement. The Embassy “kindly called on” all media outlets to check the information they publish to prevent the spread of disinformation and fake news.
Earlier, several dailies in Serbia reported that the UK had already delivered to Kosovo 50 pieces of Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) and was planning to ship 20 Javelin missiles.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Sunday (17 April) that the arming of Kosovo by the UK is contrary to the Resolution of the UN Security Council 1244 on Kosovo and other international agreements.
Vučić said that the US also armed Kosovo with various vehicles, while Turkey trained soldiers and pilots.
“Probably for some future planes that they will have someday and that will be delivered to them again forcefully and illegally,” Vučić said.
Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin was harsher, saying on Sunday that the UK sending weapons to Kosovo was “a hostile act,” and that one could not arm terrorists and hope for peace.
Vulin said that according to Resolution 1244, the only armed force allowed in Kosovo was the international, NATO-led Kosovo forces (Kfor), and that the UK was giving weapons to “terrorists,” some of whom were going to Turkey and Albania to be trained as pilots.
