For the Republic of Kosovo, January 2010 meant another round of steps towards a strong and independent state. On January 5th, the Kosovo Security Force Search and Rescue Unit travelled to assist in facing serious floodings in Albania. After days of heavy rain which left thousands of houses flooded in the northwestern Shkodra region and approximately 4000 residents evacuated, Albania declared the worst flooding in half a century a natural disaster and made an official request for humanitarian assistanc to the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force. This marks the first humanitarian assistance mission that the KSF has carried out abroad since its official launch in January 2009.
It’s like seeing a baby taking its first steps, especially since I remembered seeing the security force training in order to be able to declare IOC (Initial Operating Capabilities) in September last year. : )
On January 15th, the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Montenegro established diplomatic relations. The Montenegrin Foreign Minister sees a bright future for the relation between the two countries and emphasized that Kosovo authorities has to see to the needs of the Montenegrin community in Kosovo also in the future. Establishing diplomatic relations between Prishtina and Podgorica is another smart step towards a more stable Balkan. Obviously, Serbia, from which Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, is not happy. But as a friend of mine said - ”Anything that annoys Belgrade is good”.
KFOR patrol in Kosovo.
The planned reduction of the NATO-lead Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops, present in the country since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999 - began this January. As security has improved over the last years, the 14.000 troops strong international peacekeeping force has reduced itself to 10.000 troops during January 2010 and will keep shrinking, ending up with 2.500 troops in two years. Despite a reduction, KFOR will conitinue working for a safe and secure enviroment in Kosovo, especially in the northern part of the country where tension is higher due to unrest between Albanian majority and Serbian minority.
Baby steps on several levels
Flags of Kosovo and Montenegro.
For the Republic of Kosovo, January 2010 meant another round of steps towards a strong and independent state. On January 5th, the Kosovo Security Force Search and Rescue Unit travelled to assist in facing serious floodings in Albania. After days of heavy rain which left thousands of houses flooded in the northwestern Shkodra region and approximately 4000 residents evacuated, Albania declared the worst flooding in half a century a natural disaster and made an official request for humanitarian assistanc to the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force. This marks the first humanitarian assistance mission that the KSF has carried out abroad since its official launch in January 2009.
It’s like seeing a baby taking its first steps, especially since I remembered seeing the security force training in order to be able to declare IOC (Initial Operating Capabilities) in September last year. : )
On January 15th, the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Montenegro established diplomatic relations. The Montenegrin Foreign Minister sees a bright future for the relation between the two countries and emphasized that Kosovo authorities has to see to the needs of the Montenegrin community in Kosovo also in the future. Establishing diplomatic relations between Prishtina and Podgorica is another smart step towards a more stable Balkan. Obviously, Serbia, from which Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, is not happy. But as a friend of mine said - ”Anything that annoys Belgrade is good”.
KFOR patrol in Kosovo.
The planned reduction of the NATO-lead Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops, present in the country since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999 - began this January. As security has improved over the last years, the 14.000 troops strong international peacekeeping force has reduced itself to 10.000 troops during January 2010 and will keep shrinking, ending up with 2.500 troops in two years. Despite a reduction, KFOR will conitinue working for a safe and secure enviroment in Kosovo, especially in the northern part of the country where tension is higher due to unrest between Albanian majority and Serbian minority.
Photo courtesy: New Kosova Report, NATO.