Romano: Peace in Kosovo, NATO priority

Security and peace in Kosovo remain the priority of the North Atlantic Alliance. The chief of NATO's Military Liaison Office in Serbia, Italian General Giampierero Romano, granted that assurance.

In an interview for portal from Belgrade, Demostat, he said the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, is in contact with local institutions, then international missions, and with the Serbian side, as well.

A stable Kosovo is of crucial importance for stability in the region and for our security. For more than two decades, peace and stability in Kosovo are priorities NATO. The United Nations mandate for our peacekeeping mission, KFOR, based on Resolution 1244, remains unchanged. We continue to provide support for a safe environment in Kosovo”, Romano said.

On May 29th, 2023 violent Serb protesters attacked the peacekeeping forces in Zvecan, where 93 KFOR members were injured. On September 24, however, in Banjska, a group armed with paramilitary weapons engaged in aggression. They attacked the police where Sergeant Africa Bunnjak was killed and police officer Alban Rashit was wounded.

There were new violent events in September. This is unacceptable. The facts must certainly be confirmed as the authors are brought to justice. In response to violence, NATO has deployed in Kosovo about 1,000 additional peacekeepers and autoblink units. This is the biggest increase in our contingent in Kosovo in the last ten years, showing that NATO is willing to maintain peace”, he added.

Asked how the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue views last year's events, Romano clarified that the North Atlantic Alliance continues to firmly support the process mediated by the European Union.

The dialogue, the military, called it the only way for achieving sustainable political solution and stability throughout the Western Balkans”.