THE COMMANDER OF KFOR HOSTED IN KFOR HQ THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF OF THE SERBIAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL LJUBISA DIKOVIC

The Commander of KFOR, Major General Salvatore Farina received the visit of the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Ljubisa DIKOVIC in KFOR HQ in Camp Film City in Pristina.

This meeting was part of the agenda of the High-Level Talks conducted in line with the Military Technical Agreement (MTA), known as the KUMANOVO Treaty. It is the fifth time that Major General has met General DIKOVIC since September of last year.

Throughout the meeting important themes were discussed mainly related to the security situation and focused on the Northern part of Kosovo in light of the evolution of the dialogues Belgrade - Pristina for the normalization of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

General Farina updated General DIKOVIC about KFOR activity in Kosovo: the trend is very positive throughout all the territory including the north that is the area where KFOR continues to maintain its main effort with a permanent presence aimed at ensuring a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all the citizens and organizations operating in that part of the territory.

During the meeting the important issue of monitoring of the ABL, in line with what is indicated by the MTA, was also addressed.

In particular COM KFOR confirmed that the situation is calm and stable all along the approximately 350 kilometers of the Administrative Boundary Line.

In brief, no significant incidents, events or violations which have jeopardized the security and freedom of movement has been reported recently: the constant monitoring activity conducted by KFOR forces, the excellent relations between the NATO Joint Military Commission members and the SAF counterparts as well as the mutual activities carried out on a daily base along the ABL (synchronized patrols) help to maintain a peaceful, cooperative and positive atmosphere.

The two senior officers have confirmed that this productive cooperation is going to continue in the future.

During the working lunch the two generals similarly discussed the important mutual cooperation with other prominent regional counterparts and international stakeholders in order to enhance the security situation in the wide Balkan area.

During the afternoon, on the sidelines of the High Level Talks meeting, a friendly football match between KFOR and SAF teams was played in Camp BONDSTEEL. The winner was SAF with the score of 4 – 1.

It has been an informal occasion strongly favored by the two high generals to increase mutual understanding and trust. It is the "return match” after the first one this year hosted by SAF in June in Serbia.

COM KFOR meets on a regular basis with the CHOD's of the four countries bordering the KFOR Area of Responsibility, namely Albania, FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia. Major General Salvatore Farina over the last six months has visited Belgrade, Tirana, Skopje and Podgorica and he has also hosted the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces in January and the Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces in KFOR HQ in Camp Film City at PRISTINA in March and the Chief of Defence of FYROM in April.