NATO is bringing additional troops in Kosovo
NATO called in a new battalion in Kosovo in view of the announced proclamation of independence of the province, by Pristina leaders, stated an Alliance official on Wednesday, quoted by AFP. Spokeperson of Kosovo NATO troops (KFOR), Bertrand Bonneau, stated that the call of the Italian military battalion made of 560 people "has started on the 21st of January". "This battalion will go into field training under KFOR command starting with the 4th of March 2008", he said. NATO has also called in 17.000 military persons as part of the KFOR troops.
The KFOR spokesperson underlined the fact that the Italian military persons are part of the reserve forces "usually called in" for "routine operations". "This also allows us to prove NATO’ s capacity to increase its field forces in a very short term.", he added.
The Kosovo Police announced on Wednesday that they are preparing a special plan, called the “Status”, for the day when Pristine proclaims its independence. According to local press, the plan envisages the increase of police forces in the areas where the approximately 100.000 Serbs from Kosovo live.
(Source: Mediafax)
