Rutte's visit to Kosovo: Important messages the secretary gave yesterday NATO

Rutte has also met with the commander of KFOR's mission, led by NATO, Major General Enrico Bardoni, who shared his views on the current security situation in the region, stressing KFOR's continued efforts to ensure a safe environment for all Kosovo residents and to support the EU-brokered dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.

Secretary - General NATO, Mark Rutte, has also held a discussion table with journalists during Tuesday, stressing the United States' commitment to the alliance and the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

According to him, mission NATO in Kosovo is key to the security and stability of all communities. However, he underlined that a sustainable peaceful solution should be political.

During this conference, Rutte delivered important messages.

His main messages were that KFOR remains a factor of stability in Kosovo, along with the US, and that NATO will continue to contribute to security in the country and the region.

Rutte said the alliance is ready to respond to any security development in Kosovo. But, boss of NATO urged leaders to take actions that do not oppose preliminary commitments, while urging Kosovo and Serbia flexibility and compromises in dialogue.

“KFOR is fully ready to respond to any security developments. In that sense, we expect to continue co-operation between Pristina and KFOR, in line with recent decades' commitments.”, he said during a conference with President Osmani.

He also said that the United States is committed to the alliance and to the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

During a discussion table in Pristina on March 11th with journalists after holding meetings with state leaders, Rutte said the peacekeeping mission NATO in Kosovo offers security and stability for all communities, but added that the solution to long-term peace is political.

“The US is fully devoted to KFOR, NATO. President [American, Donald] Trump two weeks ago at the Oval Office met with the French president and British prime minister and devoted to Article 5 and NATO. I know the US is committed to KFOR”, Rutte said.

The question of Washington's European position reconsidering has begun to circulate following statements made by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in February, when he said Europeans cannot expect the American military presence on the continent will last forever.

Rutte said the Trump administration has exceeded the stalemate in Russia's war against Ukraine, holding talks on ending the war with Russia and Ukraine. He said it is possible that the US administration will try to contribute to the resolution of the stalemate in the Western Balkan region as well.

“Let's see what role the US can play in this region so that we can have a long-term solution in the region where good neighbourly reports and normalisation of the” situation, Rutte said.

Before meeting with Kosovo state leaders, Kosovo's chief NATO stayed the day before even in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While in Pristina, Rutte said his request for all politicians in Kosovo and the Western Balkan region is to act predictablely.

We know that at the moment in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are tensions due to the court case against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik. And given the fact that continued tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, I think it is in everyone's interest to reduce tensions. The best way to do this is to be predictable and refrain from unilateral actions”, the chief said. NATO.

Rutte also spoke of the agreement between Kosovo and NATO that does not allow the Kosovo Security Force to go to Kosovo's north, inhabited by Serb majority, without the alliance's approval.

As long as there is no new agreement, we must respect the existing agreement. The agreement says that if the KSF wants to be deployed somewhere, separately in the north, it should have a preliminary agreement with KFOR. When it comes to the Kosovo Police, if they are close to the border, it is important that at least they announce KFOR on time. We want this to continue and I know that Government is committed to this”, the chief said. NATO.

Of course, you cannot predict whether things will change over time. But there is nothing new that I can now announce to you in this direction”, he added.

KFOR is the third security reacter in Kosovo, following Kosovo Police and the European Union's mission of rule of law, E ULEX. This mission, among other things, is responsible for the security of the border line between Kosovo and Serbia.

Meanwhile, asked whether possible European-led peacekeeping forces in Ukraine could lead to changing KFOR's presence in Kosovo or to the security guarantees NATO offers in Kosovo, Rutte said that what is initially needed in Ukraine is a peace agreement.

“then must draft a mission for security guarantees. Currently, the French and British are taking the lead in this debate. Then, we have to see what this means for the presence of troops on the east wing, but also here in the Western Balkans. But by then we'll have taken three steps forward and I don't want to talk about anything if you're going to have to talk about it.

The commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Enrico Bardoni, welcomed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska yesterday.

According to KFOR's announcement, Major General Bardoni shared his views on the current security situation in the region, stressing KFOR's continued efforts to ensure a safe environment for all Kosovo residents and to support the EU-brokered dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.

Also, Bardoni met with ambassadors of nations contributing troops to KFOR, thanking them for their continued support of the regional mission and stability.

“KFOR continues to implement its mandate, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, to contribute to a safe environment and to ensure freedom of movement for all people and communities in Kosovo. We co-operate closely with the Kosovo Police and the European Union's Mission for Law Rule in Kosovo (EULEX), in their respective roles as security responseors”, KFOR report said.