Wrote: Endrit Berisha
A headline claimed that Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has threatened war 47 times in seven days and that life for Serbs in Kosovo is becoming more unbearable day by day.
"Extremist Kurti threatened war 47 times in 7 days! Life for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is becoming more unbearable day by day," is the title of the article by the Serbian-language media outlet "alo.rs", published on May 31.
What does this article contain?
"The risk of a new war is real because Serbia, by arming itself, aims for escalation in order to realize its territorial ambitions, this fool said," the article's introduction states.
Link to the article published by the Serbian language media outlet "alo.rs":
In the content, “alo.rs” used a statement by the deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lutfi Haziri, who is quoted as saying that Kurti talks about war because “he is unemployed.” Haziri did not say that Kurti is threatening war, but that he mentions it to draw attention “from his unemployment.”
According to the Serbian-language media outlet, Kurti's statements have been rejected by the Serbian Ministry of Defense. Citing an official statement, it was said that "the equipping of the Serbian Armed Forces with modern weapons systems and military equipment is a continuous and planned process that stems from the state's strategic determination to strengthen defense, primarily as a preventive instrument against possible armed aggression."
The article continues with the claims that "how much Albin Kurti's policy is based on conflicts and the desire for war is shown by the statements of his Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, a former member of the terrorist KLA, who has said that the conflict will not start tomorrow, but that it is clear that it will happen."
What did Kurti say?
On May 23, Prime Minister Kurti, at the London Defense Conference, warned of the risk of a new war in the region, saying that Serbia's alignment with Russia, approach to Kosovo, and rapid armament "are indicators that Serbia's goal is escalation with the aim of realizing its territorial ambitions."
“Three of the four combined brigades of the Serbian army, including 48 operating bases around the border with Kosovo, not including other specialized units, are stationed in the south of the territory, near the border with Kosovo. The threat is not merely theoretical. The risk of a new war is real,” he had said (see here)
Analyze:
The claim in the headline of the Serbian-language media outlet, "alo.rs", that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has threatened war is unfounded.
Prime Minister Kurti has said that there is a potential risk, attributing this to Serbia's rapid armament and not because Kosovo is threatening anyone with war.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info considers these claims to be "conspiracy theories".
Reasoning:
"Conspiracy theories" are media reports that disseminate a false or unverifiable description of a phenomenon, event, or person, presenting it as part of or the result of a secret plan ("conspiracy"). A characteristic of these reports is that they present a series of claims, presented as facts, between which cause-effect relationships are established, without providing any credible evidence.