US monitors Serbian troop movements to Kosovo border

The US is monitoring the movement of Serbian troops near the border with Kosovo and has informed Serbia that the use of force would be unacceptable.
This was stated by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien to Radio Free Europe.
"The US will view any movement of Serbian forces as a threat to NATO forces, which are in Kosovo to protect both Albanians and Serbs," he stressed.
According to him, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that there will be no use of force.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced on March 21 that Serbian army units had been spotted a few meters from the border with Kosovo and described the movements as "deliberate provocations".
In response, the Serbian Defense Ministry characterized Kurti's statements as "part of a campaign to spread disinformation about the Serbian army."
According to Belgrade, the Serbian army performed its duties in a safe administrative zone, in accordance with all signed agreements.
O'Brien pointed out that the US is monitoring the situation and expects Serbia and Kosovo to reduce tensions.
Speaking about Kosovo, O'Brien said no government should make decisions that impoverish the population.
He added that the US has made it clear that it expects the arrest of those involved in the September 24, 2023 attack in Banska, when Kosovo police were attacked by a group of armed Serbs and one police officer and three assailants were killed.
"We expect that to happen soon," O'Brien said.
Asked by Radio Free Europe (RFE) whether he sees a rapprochement between Serbia and Russia given the visit of Serbian Foreign Minister and Technical Prime Minister Ivica Dacic to Moscow, O'Brien replied that "Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has made it clear that he sees the future of Serbia in Europe".
Regarding Kosovo, O'Brien explained that no government should make decisions that impoverish the population.
"But we see that in the northern part of Kosovo it is very difficult for a certain number of people to buy the things they need for everyday life," he added.
His statement referred to the new regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo, which designates the euro as the only currency for cash payments and makes it impossible to use the Serbian dinar.
O'Brien said that the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, visited the citizens of northern Kosovo a few days ago to see the situation up close.
The United States believes that the ruling of the Central Bank of Kosovo is being implemented in a way that makes everyday life more difficult for the citizens of Kosovo.
"Friends of Kosovo would like this regulation to be reviewed and implemented in a way that will allow citizens to pay in everyday transactions. This probably means taking a step back, allowing the introduction of any currency, euro or dinar, and this is something that the special envoy in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo is discussing," O'Brien added. /BGNES