scoone
03-18-2004, 02:41 PM
NATO deploys "prudent reinforcements" to Kosovo in response to violence
18 March 2003
SHAPE, Belgium -- In response to the recent violence and tragic loss of life in Kosovo, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General James L. Jones, in concert with NATO Headquarters, strongly endorses the deployment of NATO reserve forces to Kosovo.
Elements of this force, including American, British and Italian troops, are deploying from locations both within the Balkans and the UK, in line with pre-planned contingency operations. Lead elements will arrive in Kosovo today.
This deployment is a prudent reinforcement of the some 18,500 NATO troops currently deployed in Kosovo and clearly demonstrates NATO's commitment to stability in Kosovo and in the Balkans region.
The reinforcements include a battalion sized, rapid response reserve force that will be available to the Commander KFOR (COMKFOR) to deploy where he requires in the theatre of operations.
“The recent deadly ethnic violence that has broken out in Kosovo is of deep concern to me and to the leaders of NATO,” said Gen. Jones, SACEUR. “I call on the leaders of both sides of the conflict to take decisive action to control immediately their citizens and return to the rule of law.”
“The commander of KFOR, Lieutenant-General Holger Kammerhoff, has forces sufficient to restore order and to protect lives and property, however I fully support my Joint Force South Commander’s decision to dispatch ready reserve reinforcements to Kosovo to demonstrate NATO resolve and our commitment to the citizens of the region,” said Gen. Jones.
Since 1999, the NATO Alliance, through the KFOR mission, have provided the safe and secure environment that allows the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the local government to build democratic and peaceful society.
18 March 2003
SHAPE, Belgium -- In response to the recent violence and tragic loss of life in Kosovo, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General James L. Jones, in concert with NATO Headquarters, strongly endorses the deployment of NATO reserve forces to Kosovo.
Elements of this force, including American, British and Italian troops, are deploying from locations both within the Balkans and the UK, in line with pre-planned contingency operations. Lead elements will arrive in Kosovo today.
This deployment is a prudent reinforcement of the some 18,500 NATO troops currently deployed in Kosovo and clearly demonstrates NATO's commitment to stability in Kosovo and in the Balkans region.
The reinforcements include a battalion sized, rapid response reserve force that will be available to the Commander KFOR (COMKFOR) to deploy where he requires in the theatre of operations.
“The recent deadly ethnic violence that has broken out in Kosovo is of deep concern to me and to the leaders of NATO,” said Gen. Jones, SACEUR. “I call on the leaders of both sides of the conflict to take decisive action to control immediately their citizens and return to the rule of law.”
“The commander of KFOR, Lieutenant-General Holger Kammerhoff, has forces sufficient to restore order and to protect lives and property, however I fully support my Joint Force South Commander’s decision to dispatch ready reserve reinforcements to Kosovo to demonstrate NATO resolve and our commitment to the citizens of the region,” said Gen. Jones.
Since 1999, the NATO Alliance, through the KFOR mission, have provided the safe and secure environment that allows the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the local government to build democratic and peaceful society.