NATO Secretary General: KFOR helping make Kosovo a safer place

Meeting with KFOR Commander, Major General Giovanni Fungo, the Secretary General underscored the importance of NATO’s mission in Kosovo and the need for continued dialogue and normalisation between Belgrade and Pristina. He thanked KFOR troops from many Allied and partner countries for their service, describing KFOR as a success story.

At a joint press conference with Mr. Isa Mustafa, the Secretary General stressed that “for the past eighteen years, KFOR has been helping to transform Kosovo into a safer place." He expressed NATO’s full support for the EU-sponsored dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, noting that he remains in close contact with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and had spoken to her earlier in the day to discuss the importance of further progress.

Mr. Stoltenberg stressed NATO’s commitment to the security and stability of Kosovo, including through capacity building. The new NATO Advisory and Liaison Team will play a key role in these efforts, including on cyber defence, science for peace, building integrity and fighting corruption. The Secretary General and Mr. Mustafa also discussed the need for continued commitment from all sides to exercise restraint and defuse tensions.

Mr. Stoltenberg also met with Mr. Hashim Thaçi, Mr. Enver Hoxhaj and Mr. Branimir Stojanović. He strongly encouraged Kosovo to continue on the path of dialogue and reconciliation. The Secretary General held further talks with heads of international organisations in Kosovo, including the United Nations, European Union, EULEX and the OSCE.