The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo Dr. Jakup Krasniqi received today at a meeting the Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, Commander of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, who was being accompanied by COMKFOR Erhard Buhler.
At a press conference, the Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo Dr. Jakup Krasniqi said that the meeting discussed cooperation that institutions of Kosovo and Kosovo Security Force maintain with NATO and KFOR.
He said he also thanked Admiral and General for the Lisbon Summit, which appreciated the engagement on the security in Kosovo, and has also thanked NATO for the KFOR presence in Kosovo and for their contribution in building professional capacities of Kosovo Security Force.
“We also discussed gradual downsizing of KFOR troops in Kosovo and opined that gradual downsizing of KFOR troops in Kosovo is a factor that indicates there is safety and stability in Kosovo. One again, I assured the Admiral and the General that institutions of Kosovo, the people of Kosovo will bolster cooperation with NATO and KFOR, because political and institutional integration into NATO and European Union is our aim”, Mr. Krasniqi asserted.
“We consider that we have jointly made the achievements so far are and that the Kosovo Security Force, the NATO and the KFOR will make further achievements together in terms of providing for security in Kosovo”, the Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo Dr. Jakup Krasniqi said.
The Commander of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, said that during the first two months as Commander of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Naples he was constantly impressed by the progress made in Kosovo and that he wishes all the best to the people of Kosovo in forthcoming elections as well.
“In terms of our role as NATO, we will maintain, through KFOR, our support in providing a peaceful and safe environment. “As we discussed, the recent decision by the North Atlantic Council to reduce KFOR presence during the months to come from the current 10,000 to 5500 troops is a natural result and a good sign of a tangible progress made in Kosovo ”, Admiral Locklear said.
Asked about security situation in northern part of Kosovo and a potential plan for that part, Admiral Locklear said: “When we will see now the change in the KFOR size, we will redeploy some troops, so as to use these troops optimally for providing a peaceful and safe environment all over Kosovo”.