STATEMENT OF INTENT BETWEEN THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND MINISTER OF KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE

This afternoon, the Italian Defence Minister, Senator Roberta PINOTTI and the Minister for Kosovo Security Force Agim CEKU signed a letter of intent for the implementation and consolidation of the relations of cooperation between the Italian Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force.

The meeting took place during the Minister of Defence’s visit to the KFOR Italian contingent in Kosovo.

Minister PINOTTI, accompanied by the Chief of Italian Defence Admiral BINELLI MANTELLI and the Commander of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) Major General Salvatore Farina, was received by the Minister CEKU with whom she discussed the security situation in the Balkans with particular reference to Kosovo.

In this context, the Minister CEKU has stressed the fruitful cooperation between the institutions of Kosovo, in particular with the Kosovo Security Force Department, and KFOR wich, since last September, is led by an Italian general.

The letter of intent aims to strengthen the bonds of friendship and respect between Italy and Kosovo to strengthen cooperation in the field of defence and security forces in accordance with the values and fundamental rights of citizens, such as freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the pursuit of peace.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two Ministers have expressed the will to strengthen relations and consultations between the two ministries and also to define the specific details of cooperation and future projects.

"In the future we will intensify the bilateral dialogue on matters relating to the security and defence”, stressed Minister PINOTTI and Minister CEKU in a joint statement, "the next step will be the development of a detailed agreement of cooperation between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to define specific projects about training, capacity implementation of personnel and units of the Kosovo Security Force within the mandate that is to support, if required, the civil authorities in response to emergency situations and civil protection including the disposal of explosive devices, search and rescue, handling of hazardous materials and fire fighting, military engineer support and in the field of military Health”.