NATO to hold exercises in Kosovo, even with reserve troops

NATO's peacekeeping force in Kosovo, (KFOR), indicated that exercises with code name “will be held on September 27th. The Golden Sword” in a camp exercise area ovo Selle, in the municipality of Vushtria, a town located near Mitrovica. In a media report, KFOR said that the European Union's mission for the Rule of Law will be included in the exercise. “The exercise will be established in a context of emergency response operation, where KFOR personnel will continue to operate in close co-ordination with Kosovo Police and EULEX mission”.

KFOR exercise is part of plans published earlier this month by KFOR troops, where it was announced, that from September 27th to November 2nd “will hold a routine exercise with one of its reserve units”, and this will automatically lead to a temporary increase in the number of NATO troops on the ground. These exercises, including NATO reserve units, will be held just a month before the Kosovo government's deadline for stopping the flow of Serbian city license plates issued by Serbia's authorities for northern Kosovo Serbs.

“Visual and ready to act”

According to NATO peacekeeping forces leaders in Kosovo, the situation currently in the north is calm, but fragile. Therefore, KFOR does not rule out the possibility of new tensions, when the registration of Serbian cars expires until October 31st, which the Kosovo government has determined and rejected by Serbia. “We are vigilant and willing to act, if we have increasing tensions, but we can also increase the number of reserve forces, and we can make this decision in a short time”, KFOR deputy commander Luca Piper said during a meeting with reporters in Pristina. NATO under peacekeeping force KFOR, currently has about 3,700 troops in Kosovo.

British contingent addition

Ten days ago, meanwhile, a military contingent from the United Kingdom arrived in Kosovo to be included in exercises aimed at preserving the high degree of readiness and contributing to the preservation of a safe environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo”.

On July 31st, when the Kosovo government imposed reciprocity on travel documents and license plates in northern Kosovo, there were clashes between Kosovo police and local Serbs. Serbs placed barricades on the road and they left only when the NATO peacekeeping forces intervened, and the Kosovo government agreed to extend the deadline for implementation of the license decision by October 31st. / DW