Commander Macarag: Bondsteel's not moving, that's already explained.

In May, Serbia placed its troops at a high level of security due to action by Kosovo Police in the north. After tensions rose, KFOR confirmed that the Kosovo Police operation was extended across the country under prosecutors' orders in Pristina, adding that the operation was part of the fight against crime. However, KFOR's position broke reports between them and Serbian authorities, who did not like the answer about the situation.

But, KFOR said Kosovo police did a very good job in response to the situation. KFOR recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, Colonel Roy J. Macaragg, commander of the multiethnic East Battalion with headquarters at Camp Bondsteel, said KFOR's presence for these 20 years was and will be important and key to ensuring security, which according to him is a necessary condition for continuing the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue.

KFOR's “Partnership is monitoring, which means it will stay until the situation requires it, there is no fixed date for the mission, and NATO currently does not plan to reduce or withdraw it” said Macarag.

When he spoke of tensions in Kosovo regarding the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, he said serious tensions do not exist.

“KFOR is a military mission dedicated to ensuring protection and security for all people in Kosovo. From the military perspective, security conditions are good, and there are no serious tensions on the ground. KFOR guarantees security so the political level can continue their dialogue with the aim of finding a” solution, Macaraeg stressed.

The commander of the Joint Allied Forces Command in Naples, Admiral Foggo, recently suggested that the co-operation of all sides on both sides of the border is good and Colonel Macarag also said co-operation between KFOR and the Serbian Army is wonderful.

I'll take care of my counterpart every three months and we'll talk on the phone as necessary, and my Joint Implementation Commission team is working with them every week. We develop joint patrols with the Serbian Army Forces. Since I took over command in mid-November, we have developed about 200 patrols with the Serbian Army Forces” said Macaragg.

When asked whether there is room for improvement when it comes to the security situation of Serbs in Kosovo and the low degree of their return, Macarag stressed that general security is good.

“KFOR guarantees defence is secure for all people in Kosovo, including Serbs. Lack of return does not depend on security itself, but also the result of the combination of politics with the” underlined Macarag.

Commenting on the positions made by representatives of the National Council of the United States made in March of this year that unless they lift the tariffs of goods coming from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the US may withdraw its troops from Camp Bondsteel, he said the issue was clearly explained by the US Embassy and there are no signs or plans for this to happen.