Distinguished guests, valued members of the KFOR community, ladies and gentlemen:
Today, we gather to commemorate a major milestone for the Kosovo Force. Our 25th anniversary.
It is a privilege to stand here with you all, as Commander of the longest mission in the history of our Alliance, and currently its largest. I am honoured to reflect on the numerous collective achievements made, and on the challenges addressed and experiences shared.
KFOR represents NATO’s tangible, long-standing and steadfast commitment to security across Kosovo and to regional stability.
The role that our Alliance played to put an end to the protracted and bloody wars that plagued the Western Balkans region in the nineties has been crucial. So, it is important to recall the historical context of our mission.
KFOR was established following NATO’s 78-day air campaign to protect civilians and to halt the humanitarian catastrophe that was unfolding in Kosovo, after many failed international diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 provided and provides until today the legal framework for KFOR. Its mission remains unchanged. KFOR is tasked to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people living in Kosovo.
This was and still is a monumental assignment. But KFOR stepped up to the challenge; and has come a long way, thanks to the daily dedication and professionalism of its soldiers and civilian personnel. Let me honour their service and sacrifice and pay tribute to those who lost their lives serving this mission. Without the commitment of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who served under KFOR over the last 25 years, NATO could not have played such a pivotal role in Kosovo and the Western Balkans.
It is important to remember how far Kosovo and the region have come since the 1990s, but also how fragile the security situation still is and how much KFOR and NATO are still needed to ensure a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo.
The last years have been difficult for Kosovo. And for NATO in Kosovo.
When I assumed command last October, I was deeply aware of the responsibility bestowed upon me and of the context of our mission. Over these past months, I have witnessed first-hand the resilience and dedication that characterize this mission and its people. Once again, KFOR has stepped to the challenge and proved that it remains a fundamental pillar for regional stability.
The violent protests in May 2023, which left 93 KFOR soldiers injured, some of them for life, and the attack against the Kosovo Police on 24 September in Banjska, were unacceptable. We reacted swiftly. KFOR has reinforced its presence in Kosovo, including with additional troops and patrols. The 1,000 additional deployed troops have been the biggest reinforcement of our mission in a decade. We have quadrupled KFOR’s presence in northern Kosovo and tripled the number of patrols, including along the Administrative Boundary Line.
These have been prudent steps, which the Alliance has undertaken to ensure that KFOR continues to implement its UN mandate effectively. And this is what KFOR continues to do, every day and in an impartial fashion. Our posture on the ground is visible and flexible, allowing us to prevent any risk of escalation and respond to all security scenarios, in accordance with our UN mandate.
This all shows that NATO’s commitment to KFOR and stability in the region is tangible and steadfast – as also reaffirmed in NATO’s Strategic Concept, which identifies the Western Balkans as a region of strategic importance for the Alliance. In accordance with our conditions-based approach, KFOR will remain as long as it is needed.
So, KFOR’s role continues to be essential, but moving forward towards lasting stability across Kosovo requires more than KFOR presence.
As NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said here in Pristina, last November: “Stability in the region depends on all sides choosing diplomacy over violence and on honouring existing commitments.”
KFOR will continue to create the security framework necessary for the EU-facilitated dialogue to move forward, so that outstanding issues can be resolved, for the benefit of all communities.
I am honoured to continue sharing this journey with you, and I will spare no effort, together with the thousands of women and men in uniform, from NATO Allies and partners, whom I am proud to command.
Thank you.