NATO Presence in Kosovo Implications of KFOR Troop Reduction and Essential Political Processes 36 pages, pdf  Download Back

NATO Presence in Kosovo Implications of KFOR Troop Reduction and Essential Political Processes

Publisher: Friedrich Ebert Stifung , Prishtina

Volume: 36 pages, pdf

Description

 Since 2000, NATO has constantly been in the process of reducing its KFOR troop presence in accordance with the political and security context in Kosovo. On October 2010, the North Atlantic Council announced plans to reduce KFOR’s presence from less than 10,000 troops to 5,500 in the upcoming months, which according to NATO has predominantly been conducted in accordance with a constant evaluation of the security context in Kosovo and the region, and on the basis of supporting and maintaining a safe environment for Kosovo, ensuring freedom of movement as needed and border monitoring. NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, stated in 2009 that “I would like to see the reduction of the KFOR troops to a small reaction force or a complete troop withdrawal.” 1 However, regardless of statements that the reduction of KFOR troops is done in accordance with the continuous assessment of the security context in Kosovo and the region, it is important to emphasize the structural shortcomings that have an impact on the overall security situation in Kosovo and the region. This paper reflects on four basic challenges that should be considered when assessing the security situation in Kosovo in relation to the process of reducing NATO’s presence. They include: a) the situation in Northern Part of Kosovo; b) bilateral relations between Kosovo and Serbia; c) Euro-Atlantic prospect for Kosovo; d) development of security capacities that will assume new, transferred responsibilities.