Germany will return to Kosovo 14,000 refugees

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said after the signing with his Kosovo counterpart Bajram Rexhepi that no "mass deportations" were planned.

But he said Berlin would "pursue its policy of progressive return" of people who fled the fighting in Kosovo.

He also pledged to ensure an "appropriate balance of various ethnicities" so that not only Roma are returned to Kosovo. A maximum of 2,500 people will be repatriated per year.

According to official German figures, about 10,000 of the 14,000 refugees to be returned are Roma versus about 2,400 ethnic Albanians.

The move was sharply criticised by the far-left opposition Linke party, which said many of those who sought safety in Germany would be forced to flee again or "land in miserable circumstances" if returned to Kosovo.

Deputy Ulla Jelpke, who was visiting Kosovo with a German parliamentary delegation, warned of the danger of racist attacks against Roma in Kosovo.

Almost 200 Irish KFOR troops are preparing to leave Kosovo, marking the end of more than a decade of intense Defence Forces involvement.

The main body of troops are then set to fly home next week, reducing the Irish contingent from 240 to just 50.
A further decrease is planned for October which will leave a small number of personnel remaining in the region.