Vucic Claims Kosovo Won't Set Up Serb Municipality Association

President Vucic claimed on Friday in an open letter to Kosovo Serbs that Pristina will "not lift a finger" to establish the promised Association of Serb Majority Municipalities in Kosovo as agreed in the EU-mediated Belgrade-Pristina talks on normalising relations.

Amid heightened tensions between Belgrade and Pristina in recent days, Vucic also said that Serbia would "protect" Kosovo Serbs and will not stand for "organised violence" against them.

"Today Serbia is ready to fulfil its obligation to you and protect your lives and your peace, if necessary," Vucic said in the letter.

The Serbian president also demanded that NATO's Kosovo force KFOR protect the Gazivode hydropower plant and other facilities in Kosovo run by Serbs.

Earlier on Friday, Vucic called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council on Saturday over allegations that Kosovo authorities might try to take control over the Gazivode hydropower plant.

Saturday is also the deadline by which Pristina is meant to finish the first draft of the statue for the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.

The Kosovo authorities have said that the deadline will be met, but Vucic expressed scepticism in his letter.

"One day before the deadline... all the warnings and doubts I have been expressing are coming true and being confirmed. Pristina will once again not lift a finger to form the Association of Serb Municipalities," Vucic said.

The establishment of the association to represent Kosovo Serbs' interests was envisaged by the Brussels agreement signed by Belgrade and Pristina in 2013, but the idea has been on hold since then.

Vucic called on the Serb population in Kosovo to remain peaceful and "do nothing that individuals among Albanians, or a part...