Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that the government sent a request to the KFOR commander for the return of military and police personnel to Kosovo.

Speaking on the Serbian state TV (RTS) after a meeting of Prime Minister Ana Brnabic’s cabinet, the president said that the request was sent by e-mail with plans for the Serbian Chief of Staff General Milan Mojsilovic to deliver a hard copy of the request to KFOR commander General Michele Ristuccia on Friday morning at one of the crossings between Serbia proper and Kosovo. Vucic said the request was for up to 1,000 police and military personnel to return to Kosovo in line with UN Security Council resolution 1244.

Vucic said the government took the decision unanimously.

He said that Belgrade only wants to see respect for international law. “That is important for the protection of the Serb population and the control of administrative crossings which would dramatically ease tensions. It would a good decision but we are almost certain that it will not be accepted based on what we have heard,” he said.

According to Vucic, a decision to permit the return of Serbian troops to Kosovo would contribute to peace, ease tensions and provide an opportunity for a compromise solution.

He said that this is the first time that the Serbian government adopted this initiative and denied claims that the late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic’s government did the same in 2003. “Djindjic sent a letter but not directly and made no formal request for the return of the police and military,” he said.

Vucic said the KFOR commander has no choice but to allow the return of Serbian forces because of the wording of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

The Serbian President said that he expects more pressure than ever over the situation in Kosovo and the Franco-German plan.