On March 7, 2025, the Serbian media outlet “Alo.rs” published an article titled, “Albanians openly threaten Serbs! ‘The KSF is so strong that it can even stand up to Serbia!’”. In this article, the Serbian outlet claims that high-ranking officials of Kosovo’s institutions have made threatening statements against Serbs. The article quotes Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, distorting the context of his statement regarding Kosovo’s defense and military capabilities.
This claim was also shared by other Serbian media outlets, including: Naslovi.net, Lajk.rs, Portal Narona News, Kurir.rs, Vestinadlanu.rs, Borba.me, Time.rs, Svetionik.com.
Lack of Context
According to “Alo.rs”, Maqedonci stated that “Kosovo can defend itself from everyone, including Serbia,” but the media outlet failed to provide the full quote or its accurate context.
His statement was also used to fuel discussions about the potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Kosovo.
The Serbian media also quoted Milan Ivanovic, former director of the Clinical Hospital in North Mitrovica, who claimed that “this is yet another in a series of their warlike statements,” accusing Kosovo’s institutions of pursuing an anti-Serb policy. He further stated that Serbia has never provoked wars and has only defended itself, a claim that contradicts historical records of conflicts in the region.
In an interview on March 5, 2025, Maqedonci emphasized that Kosovo has no official information regarding any withdrawal of NATO troops and that cooperation with KFOR will continue as long as the mission remains present in Kosovo. He also stated that Kosovo is prepared to defend its territory and citizens in the event of any potential threat or danger, but always in coordination with KFOR.
When asked whether Kosovo could stand up to Serbia without KFOR’s assistance, Maqedonci responded: “Absolutely, we are in our own country, we are building an army, we have purchased equipment, we have trained our soldiers, and we have citizens ready to join our capacities in the face of any risk or threat.” However, he emphasized the importance of NATO’s presence and the commitment to coordinating any action with the North Atlantic alliance.
The article by “Alo.rs” presents this statement as a threat to Serbs, distorting its intent and content. Maqedonci has not made any statement aimed at intimidating the Serbian community in Kosovo or elsewhere.
Ongoing Disinformation Campaigns
Serbian media outlets have a long history of biased and unfounded reporting regarding the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). In the past, they have accused the KSF of having aggressive plans against Serbs, despite the fact that the KSF is a defensive force trained in accordance with NATO standards.
During the 25th anniversary of Kosovo’s Liberation Day, several Serbian media outlets interpreted the parade of KSF units and the Kosovo Police as a threat to Serbs. This event was part of the official anniversary ceremonies and was not intended as a provocation against any community.
Such disinformation aims to create interethnic tensions and portray Kosovo as a threat to Serbs, ignoring efforts for stability and cooperation between Kosovo’s institutions and international partners. These reports are part of a broader propaganda strategy used to justify the Serbian narrative regarding Kosovo and to undermine the functionality of its institutions both domestically and on the international stage.
*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”
