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JOINT REGIONAL DETACHMENT SOUTH CHANGE OF COMMAND

Prizren, Kosovo, September 8th 2014. The KFOR Commander, Major General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, presided over the Change of Command of the Joint Regional Detachment South (JRD-S) that was held today at "Camp Sultan Murat” in Prizren.

Colonel Omer Fauk Demircioglu replaced Colonel Zorlu Topaloglu. The event was attended by several representatives of International organizations, as well as local civilian and religious authorities, representing the different ethnic groups of Kosovo.

The JRD-S multinational unit is led by a Turkish Commander and is made up of military personnel from Austria, Poland, Switzerland and United States.

JRD-S operates in the Southern part of Kosovo, with non-kinetic assets named Liaison and Monitoring Teams. Their main task is contributing to KFOR "Situational awareness”, through a liaison activity with the local institutions, International organizations and local population.

The intense activity of Key Leader Engagement with political and religious authorities and the representatives of several ethnic groups accomplish the KFOR Mission for a Safe and Secure Environment and Freedom of Movement.

During the ceremony COM KFOR awarded Colonel Topaloglu with the KFOR NATO "non-article five” Peace Mission Medal and praised his high professionalism. He welcomed the new JRD-S Commander Colonel Demircioglu and wished him all the best.

"I want to express my appreciation for your service and professionalism”, COM KFOR said, referring to Colonel Topaloglu for the excellent manner in which JRD S supported KFOR, "you and your soldiers built a very close working relationship with the community leadership and fostered a high level of trust with the population to prevent escalating incidents”, concluded General Figliuolo.