Will KFOR maintain even further area around Decani Monastery, Commander Ulustas speaking

Peacekeeping Mission NATO in Kosovo, KFOR welcomed on Thursday the Kosovo government's decision to implement the 2016 Constitutional Court's decision on the properties of the Decani Monastery.

KFOR Commander Ozkan Ulutas said in a reply to the Voice of America that the units of this mission will continue to take care of security around the monastery.

We welcome the decision of Kosovo institutions, which recognises ownership of the Decani Monastery on several hectares of land. Kosovo's Cadastral Agency has already been instructed to implement this” decision, he said, adding that our <x2->entities of KFOR, which are committed to protecting this religious zone, will continue to carry out this important task, in line with long and well-placed co-operation with local religious authorities”.

Earlier in the day, the QUINT states welcomed this decision, calling it a key “step forward of Kosovo authorities in line with European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations”.

Kosovo's government announced on Wednesday that it has asked the Cadastral Agency to implement the Constitutional Court for Property of the Decani Monastery, ending a long period of disagreement with Western diplomacy over the issue.

The implementation of the decision, with which the medieval monastery is recognised the right of property on about 24 hectares of land, is directly linked to Kosovo's request to join the Council of Europe.