Erhard Buehler: "KFOR won't reduce number of troops"
KFOR Commander Erhard Buehler says that the number of KFOR troops should not change until political stability is reached in the entire region.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, May 09, 2011
He says that the number of troops has already been reduced and that a new structure should be maintained.
"It is necessary to carry out several tasks before we take the next step toward reduction," the KFOR commander pointed out.
According to him, KFOR needs to transfer several authorities to Kosovo police, primarily border control, training etc.
"We will then be able to decide whether further reduction in the number of troops is necessary based on assessments," the German general pointed out.
He explained that the security situation in Kosovo was stable and peaceful.
"It is a message we should send to the world, since impression about Kosovo abroad is, so to speak, bad because Kosovo is always linked to violence, riots. That is why we have to send a completely different message to the world," Buehler stressed.
The KFOR commander said that NATO supported Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) as an organization whose main task was to react in cases of natural disasters and which had light weapons and was prepared for self-defense.
"It is a core of the KSF training and they will be ready to carry out the tasks they are being trained for by the end of the year," Buehler concluded.
