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SECURITY FORCE ASSISTANCE CONFERENCE

29th October 2014 – The semi-annual Security Force Assistance (SFA) Conference was hosted today by Headquarters Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Pristina/Prishtina and it was organized by the NATO Liaison and Advisory Team (NLAT).

The aim of the conference was to provide a forum for communication and collaboration with NATO and non-NATO nations involved in supporting the development of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF). Among those in attendance included representation from NATO International Staff, NATO Commands, Bilateral Partners, as well as NLAT and KFOR personnel.

KFOR Commander, Major General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, opened the conference and addressed the attendees, emphasizing the need for active cooperation  in order to provide the best coordinated support for the KSF. General Figliuolo also added: "Today, NATO members and NATO partners are coming together with the Kosovo Security Force, NATO Advisory Team and the NATO Liaison and Advisory Team (NLAT) to update each other on past and current assistance and to identify lines of development for the future. We have made much progress to date in assisting the KSF’s development in the areas of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Environmental and Hazardous Material Disposal Response and Search and Rescue – their main tasks. The Kosovo Security Force is a very important asset for all people of Kosovo”.

After the opening remarks, the Director of the NLAT chaired the conference and led the discussion regarding NATO’s efforts in SFA, the NLAT way ahead, followed by presentations from KSF, and bilateral partners.

The NLAT mission is to provide NATO advice and assistance to the KSF at Brigade level and above, with a focus on capacity building and training. The NLAT carries forward NATO’s engagement with regard to the KSF after the declaration of Full Operational Capability in July 2013, and only within the KSF’s current mission and mandate.

The KSF is a professional, multi-ethnic and uniformed Security Force that is subject to democratic, civilian control. The mission of the KSF is to conduct crisis response operations in Kosovo and abroad, to include civil protection operations within Kosovo and to assist the civil authorities in responding to natural disasters and other emergencies.