PRISHTINA, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, November 28 (AVN) - Peacekeeping forces will not be deployed in the 10km demilitarised zone in the Presevo valley to the east of Kosovo due to deterioration of the situation there, Ukrainian Lieutenant-Colonel Dmitri Shkurko of the KFOR press centre told the Military News Agency.
According to him, the Russian 13th tactical group will continue to be deployed in the US-controlled East zone. The group's personnel is manning checkpoints located at the Kosovo-Serbia administrative frontier near the area where clashes between Serbian police and Albanian fighters are taking place. KFOR Commander Carlo Cabigiosu also confirmed the peacekeepers have no right to enter the demilitarised zone.
Under the Kumanovo agreement between NATO and Yugoslav General Staff, neither KFOR units nor Yugoslavian troops can be present in the demilitarised zone around Kosovo. Serbian police is allowed to the area only with small arms.
Prior to that, Belgrade promised to deploy its troops in the Presevo valley if the KFOR units dId not manage to restore order there. Last night this ultimatum was raised. According to the 13th group checkpoint, Yugoslavian troops have not entered Presevo.