Kosovo Parliament votes to create an army, elevating tensions with Serbia

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Kosovo's Parliament voted Friday to officially transform the nation's security force into a full-fledged army, a move that has the backing of the United States, while elevating tensions with Serbia.

"From this moment, we officially have the army of Kosovo," Speaker of Parliament Kadri Veseli said after the vote.

The vote was approved by 105 out of 120 members of Kosovo's Parliament. Ethnic Serb deputies, mostly from northern Kosovo, boycotted the motion. Serbia opposed the decision for Kosovo to create an army, saying it threatens peace in the region. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said last week he would consider military action in response to the creation of the army. Kosovo has a NATO peace-keeping force that includes 600 U.S. troops.

Analysts say Brnabic was trying to appease Serb nationalists.

"The general view is that Serbia would be nuts to act militarily," Professor Ker-Lindsay told The Telegraph. "But I'm more worried about relations between the two countries than I have been for a long time."

Ethnic Serbian political leaders are protesting Kosovo's decision to raise an army. Political leader Goran Rakic said it's "unacceptable and we absolutely reject it."

The vote "showed clearly that Pristina does not want peace," Rakic said. But he urged Serbs in Kosovo to show "restraint and not respond to provocations."

The U.S. Embassy in Kosovo applauded the decision and called on Kosovo to reach out to minority populations now and in the years to come.

"The United States reaffirms its support for the gradual transition of the Kosovo Security Force to a force with a territorial defense mandate, as is Kosovo's sovereign right," the U.S. embassy in Kosovo said in a statement. "The vote in the Assembly today is the first step in developing this capability."

Kosovo's new army will work in close coordination with NATO forces.

"The United States is committed to working with the KSF to promote its professional development and organizational evolution, which will contribute to peace and stability in Kosovo and the region," the U.S. said. "Regional stability requires that Kosovo make genuine efforts to normalize relations with its neighbor Serbia, and we encourage both sides to take immediate steps to lower tensions and create conditions for rapid progress on dialogue."