KFOR Enhances Presence In Northern Kosovo In Support Of De-Escalation Arrangement

The Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Franco Federici, on Sunday visited KFOR units deployed at the Jarinje and Brnjak crossing points in northern Kosovo. For the next two weeks, KFOR will maintain a temporary, robust and agile presence in the area, in support to the implementation of the recent arrangement on de-escalation and the way forward in northern Kosovo reached between Belgrade and Pristina, under the auspices of the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

KFOR is mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo.

“KFOR units are fully ready to perform this important task in support to local and regional stability,” Major General Federici said. “In the past days I have conducted talks with all parties involved and provided regular updates to the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, and to my NATO chain of Command,” he added.  “I thank the institutions in Kosovo, the mayors of the northern municipalities, and all the stakeholders who have contributed to de-escalate the situation for their efforts, and I look forward to remaining in  contact with them,” Major General Federici also pointed out.

“Our KFOR mission plays a fundamental role to ensure the effective implementation of this arrangement, and NATO remains strongly committed to the stability of the Western Balkans region,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, during the visit paid to NATO Headquarters on Friday (01 October 2021) by the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák. Secretary General Stoltenberg praised NATO-EU cooperation regarding Kosovo as an excellent example of the strategic partnership between the two organisations.

NATO said it firmly supports the EU-facilitated Dialogue and other efforts aimed at the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina as the only path towards achieving a lasting political agreement and stability for the region.