Everything Is in Order in Podujevo

But what is the function of the LMT? It maintains contact with the local people, political and religious leaders and the representatives of international organizations. The LMT works as a preventive and early warning system in KFOR, and reports to the Joint Regional Detachment Centre (JRD-C) every day. The JRD-C processes the incoming information and reports to the commander of KFOR about the security, economic, social and political situation in Kosovo, because the changes in these factors can seriously influence the KFOR troops’ activities and planned tasks. The LMT executes its tasks on the basis of a weekly schedule that the JRD-C prepares in advance. Its area of responsibility, Podujevo Municipality comprises 76 villages.

Early morning the LMT left Camp Film City to conduct negotiation with the leader of Sfeqël village. As a first step, an interpreter joined the team to help overcome the language barrier, as only few village leaders speak English. On meeting the leader of the village, the members of the LMT got a surprise, because Bajram Vokrri and his family welcomed the LMT with warm hospitality, offering the soldiers food and drink. The negotiation was conducted by Maj. László Bánsági, LMT commander, and the participants talked mostly about the security situation, also discussing the topic of migration. Currently around 330 families live in the village, which was recently left by 60 young men who tried to get to Germany in the hope of a better life. According to the village leader, many of them have already returned, but they are now worse off because the people-smugglers took all their money.

After hours of discussions, the LMT checked the water level in Lake Batlava, which has great significance because several communities use the purified water from the lake. After Lake Batlava – which is a beautiful sight – the LMT checked a Serbian church. They are to report about every small change, even a fence with graffiti or a broken window, because these too may have an effect on the security situation. Their further tasks include border patrolling, when they also monitor the intensity of the traffic.

The nine members of the Hungarian LMT travel around the areas by three cars. The commander of the JRD-C also spoke highly of the work done by the team, pointing out that the LMT maintains excellent relations with the leaders and residents of the municipality.

Although the security situation in Kosovo may change to the worse at almost any moment, currently we can say that everything is in order in Podujevo.