KFOR presence reduced when Kosovo and Serbia achieve progress in dialogue, Holtzapple says

The deputy head of the United States Mission to NATO, Richard Holtzapple, believes KFOR's presence in Kosovo could begin to be reduced only when Kosovo and Serbia achieve progress in the dialogue mediated by the European Union.

“cannot predict how long KFOR will stay in Kosovo. We hope that there will be progress in the dialogue, with the EU mediation, which will create conditions for reducing the international presence”, he has said.

However, Holtzapple has suggested that NATO has shown its ability to have a long-standing mission to Kosovo by adapting to the situation.

“cannot say that even after five years we will need KFOR in Kosovo, I am very optimistic that we will see political progress that would enable other options”, he stressed.

Asked about the possibility of any transition to the Western Balkans, Holtzapple, has estimated that the danger in the region is the same as in the previous 30 years.

It is necessary that all states in the region have productive co-operation. We have made significant progress in the past three decades, but there is still work to do”, he stated.

NATO has added the number of soldiers to Kosovo. About a thousand soldiers in the KFOR leadership have landed in the country. The United Kingdom has deployed about 200 soldiers to join the 400-strong British contingent, while Romania has deployed around 130 soldiers following the escalation of the situation in the north, respectively, following the terrorist attack on Zvecana, respectively.

The North Macedonia government has also decided to increase the number of members of its soldiers to KFOR. In line with current developments, Slovenia has also increased the number of soldiers in NATO's peacekeeping mission. Currently 90 Slovenian soldiers are on NATO's mission to Kosovo, while the number is expected to rise for at least 100.