KFOR’s Future Depends on a Political Decision
Szöveg: Viktória Nyulász–László Szűcs | 2012. november 30. 9:06The Hungarian peacekeepers serving in Kosovo are doing a professional job, Maj.-Gen. Volker Halbauer said in Pristina. The commander of KFOR (COMKFOR) added that he hoped Hungary would continue to contribute to the NATO-led operation in the future too. Reporting from the spot.
Maj.-Gen. Volker Halbauer told the press that KFOR had been deployed in Kosovo since 1999, and the peacekeepers had already gone through many difficult periods. That said, the commander was of the opinion that over the last 13 years the security and political situation has developed in a positive direction in Europe’s youngest country. He added that the normalization of the situation is helped by the recently resuming political dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and the implementation of earlier agreements has started too. Among these – with respect to the KFOR operation – the most important task is to settle the status of border crossing points.
The COMKFOR pointed out that the mandate of the Kosovo Force remains unchanged. KFOR continues to execute its tasks under UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) No. 1244, which include maintaining a safe and secure environment (SASE), ensuring freedom of movement and encouraging political dialogue.
Talking about KFOR’s current activities, Maj.-Gen. Voker Halbauer said that the political and security situation was calm in the areas of the country south of River Ibar, so there the peacekeepers’ tasks are minimal. Their priorities there include the protection of properties with designated special status (PDSS) at the orthodox religious sites in Decan and Pec.
As for the northern part of the country, answering our question the COMKFOR pointed out that during the recent period the international forces had to intervene on many occasions to restore peace and security, but the situation has by now returned to normal. However, as some further border crossing points are to be placed under the control and supervision of the Kosovo authorities in the near future, the commander was of the opinion that KFOR must prepare itself for dealing with the tense situation and the potential demonstrations.
The future of the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo depends primarily not on a military but rather on a political decision, the general said. In his assessment, there is a continuing need for the operation, but in the present situation one cannot predict exactly how long this need will exist.
Photo: Tünde Rácz
