Pristina, Kosovo: Monday, June 9, 2014
The KFOR Commander, Major General Salvatore Farina, expressed his personal appreciation to the Kosovo Police for their professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness demonstrated in ensuring the necessary security framework and the smooth conduct of the elections process both north and south of the Ibar River.
The voting procedures, which started early in the morning, were held in the highest order in a serene, peaceful and democratic atmosphere. This was a great example of democratic maturity and effective capabilities in security management.
"The peaceful mood in which the elections were held demonstrates, once again, the democratic maturity and sense of civic duty which animates all the people of Kosovo and the high degree of efficiency and professionalism of the Kosovo Police. The large participation of citizens of different ethnic groups and minorities are a clear manifestation of the democratic spirit which distinguishes the citizens of this part of the Balkans", added General Farina.
KFOR has led a preventive, accurate preparation to come up with a detailed plan unfolding, in a precautionary manner, the whole deployment of multinational troops in support of the Kosovo Police and EULEX in its role of "third responder” focusing in the areas deemed to be at highest risk, with particular regard to the north of Kosovo where the majority of ethnic Serbs is concentrated.
With this posture KFOR intended to provide the necessary reassurance in order to maintain a safe environment and the necessary freedom of movement both for all citizens of Kosovo who wanted to exercise their right to vote, and for the observers of the OSCE and other international and local organizations who have been able to run regularly all the operations related with the electoral process with a discreet and non-intrusive presence in the proximity of the polling centers.
COMKFOR then addressed his personal appreciation to the President of Kosovo Madam Atifete Jahjaga, to the Minister of Interior Mr. Bajram Rexhepi, to the General Director of Kosovo Police Mr. Shpend Maxhuni and to the Kosovo Police Regional Commander North Nenad Djuric underlining the determinant contribution provided by the Kosovo Police in ensuring a safe and secure environment to all citizens who went to the polls considering these elections a 'success story for Kosovo', a milestone in the process of normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade an example of democracy and pluralism.