The explosion in the Ibër-Lepenci canal, KFOR rejected Kosovo's request to send the KSF to the north

The NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, said that the institutions of Kosovo, after the explosion in the Ibër-Lepenci canal in the municipality of Zubin Potok in the north on November 29, had requested authorization from the KFOR commander for the possible deployment of the Force. of Kosovo Security (FSK) in the affected area.

"The KFOR commander has not given such authorization, based on his security assessment and the actions already taken by KFOR," KFOR said in a written response to Radio Free Europe.

Kosovo made this request in accordance with the 2013 agreement signed between the institutions of Kosovo and NATO, according to which the then Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, assured NATO that the KSF will not go to the north without the prior consent of KFOR.

"As communicated in our statement yesterday, KFOR has deployed units to secure the damaged area of ​​the water channel in Zubin Potok. KFOR has also provided additional assistance to institutions in Kosovo, including logistical support and for the disposal of explosive devices," KFOR said in its response.

The mission added that the KFOR commander remains in contact with all his main partners and that he is keeping the situation under observation.

Kosovo accuses Serbia of being behind the explosion in the north, an accusation that Serbia denies.

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The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on Sunday evening during a press conference did not answer the question whether he had asked KFOR for permission to send the KSF to the north, but said that "we are limited in the north, being that our army, based on the 2013 agreement, cannot go north."

"Therefore, the situation there is not the same as in other parts of our country."

Kurti added that, even though he does not like the commitment given for not sending the KSF to the north, he will respect it.

"Would it be better and safer to be the Kosovo army? Yes, it would be. However, it is not there, and we respect the promise made by Thaçi", said Kurti.

Earlier today, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that Kurti made this request to NATO.