Rasmussen in Kosovo on Thursday

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has arrived in Kosovo today for the first time since he took office early this month. NATO headquarters in Brussels announced earlier that Rasmussen would meet with KFOR Commander Giuseppe Emilio Gai, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, and Minister of the Kosovo Security Forces Fehmi Mujota. Rasmussen in Kosovo on Thursday The secretary general will also hold meetings with key international community representatives and local political leaders, the statement added. Rasmussen said on Thursday in PriStina that he hopes to gradually wind down the presence of NATO's 13,800-strong Kosovo Force (KFOR), but that a decision will be taken only after the situation on the ground is analyzed in detail. NATO has decided to downsize KFOR in the coming years, but this decision is dependent on further improvement of the security situation, he said. NATO will not take any decision that might have negative effects on the security situation in Kosovo, and all decisions will be based on military and political analyses, said the western military alliance's chief. NATO will continue to help Kosovo authorities in the development of their own security forces, he said. Rasmussen emphasized that his visit to Pristina only a few days after he assumed office shows how high Kosovo is on his agenda of priorities. He added that his mission at the head of NATO will be to create a security framework for the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Balkans, including "Kosovo and Serbia". "This should pave the way for stability, security and prosperity in the region," he said after meeting Sejdiu and Thaci.

Rasmussen in Kosovo on Thursday

The secretary general will also hold meetings with key international community representatives and local political leaders, the statement added.

Rasmussen said on Thursday in PriŠtina that he hopes to gradually wind down the presence of NATO's 13,800-strong Kosovo Force (KFOR), but that a decision will be taken only after the situation on the ground is analyzed in detail.

NATO has decided to downsize KFOR in the coming years, but this decision is dependent on further improvement of the security situation, he said.

NATO will not take any decision that might have negative effects on the security situation in Kosovo, and all decisions will be based on military and political analyses, said the western military alliance's chief.

NATO will continue to help Kosovo authorities in the development of their own security forces, he said.

Rasmussen emphasized that his visit to Priština only a few days after he assumed office shows how high Kosovo is on his agenda of priorities.

He added that his mission at the head of NATO will be to create a security framework for the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Balkans, including "Kosovo and Serbia".

"This should pave the way for stability, security and prosperity in the region," he said after meeting Sejdiu and Thaci.