Lithuania, UK, Russia cut Kosovo staff
Lithuania and Great Britain have announced that they will cut their staff that is participating in Kosovo under various capacities. Russia, meanwhile, pulled out its last contingent of its police presence.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, March 27, 2009
"We want to reduce our contribution to KFOR for two reasons. First, the security situation in Kosovo has improved. Along with the financial crisis, our budget has been reduced, while we also have significant engagement in Afghanistan," said the spokesperson of the Lithuanian Defense Ministry Dangule Bickauiskiene.
Britain, due to budget savings, has announced that it will cut its staff inside the EULEX mission but that it will continue to offer support to Kosovo by financing the key positions in EULEX and the International Civilian Office.
Meanwhile, in his testimony to the US Senate Arms Committee, NATO Supreme Commander for Europe John Cradock said that Kosovo is still a source of instability in the wider Balkan region and NATO will continue the programs for Euro-Atlantic integration of that part of Europe.
Cradock said that NATO is in service of consolidating independence of Kosovo by implementing the Ahtisaari plan and then urged nations to recognize Kosovo.
