Staying connected to people to establish good relations based on mutual confidence. This is the
reason that made KFOR create "field offices” inside some cities in Kosovo, which are open every day
for the citizens.
The field offices are often connected to a "field house” building in which the LMT
military personnel live as a part of the community, away from the barracks. In the city of
Gjilan/Gnjilane these assets are available since 29th April 2016.
The Turkish Liaison Monitoring
Team (LMT), part of the Joint Regional Detachment South (JRD-S), is available to support the needs
of the Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb inhabitants of Gjilan/Gnjilane and the villages of
Partes/Partesh. It is open for their requests and concerns and welcomes them in the field office.
Every, now and then, LMT members pay visits to the neighbouring villages. Relations with the local
authorities are very close. The meetings are scheduled twice a week in order to feel the pulse of the
current situation. What is clear is that all people in Gjilan/Gnjilane and Partes/Partesh appreciate
KFOR’s presence.
The support guaranteed to the people comes through CIMIC activities related to
social projects that involve schools, hospitals and other aspects belonging to everyday life. For
instance, three months ago the LMT’s field office of Gjilan/Gnjilane supported a KOA and KOS
children’s gathering, buying T-shirts and paint used during the event. Schools often ask for
assistance to buy books and other materials, such as photocopy machines. Periodically LMTs visited
classes to meet the children and distribute equipment provided by KFOR CIMIC.
"We provide also
medical support if someone with particular problems needs it,” Captain Hakan Derican, LMT
Commander underlined. "But, first of all, our priority is security. The situation here, in
Gjilan/Gnjilane territory, is calm. Both, KOA and KOS, are happy to have a KFOR presence, because
they feel secure.”