NATO in Kosovo “as long as necessary”

NATO will remain in Kosovo as long as needs be, says U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey. Casey said that NATO peacekeeping forces would remain in the province until the Kosovo security forces were able to assume full responsibility in the province, adding that there would be consultations between the Kosovo government and NATO regarding the matter. NATO in Kosovo “as long as necessary” Asked by journalists why the U.S. had created the Bondsteel camp in Kosovo—the largest military base in the U.S.’s history—the spokesman replied that the base was there to provide support for the NATO mission in Kosovo and that it would be “dismantled” once American and NATO forces leave Kosovo. He said that there had been no discussion on sending more NATO forces to Kosovo. “I would leave that question to the Supreme Command and other NATO military authorities, to see if in light of recent events, they envisage any reason to change the contingent or the number of troops,” Casey said, adding that there had been no messages from the field that an increase in forces would be needed. Asked whether other NATO members had the right to create military bases in Kosovo, he said that “Kosovo is a newly independent country” and that it has “a sovereign government.” All NATO decisions would be taken in accordance with the Kosovo government and every decision on work on the ground would be made according to the existing agreement, Casey said.

NATO in Kosovo “as long as necessary”

Asked by journalists why the U.S. had created the Bondsteel camp in Kosovo—the largest military base in the U.S.’s history—the spokesman replied that the base was there to provide support for the NATO mission in Kosovo and that it would be “dismantled” once American and NATO forces leave Kosovo.

He said that there had been no discussion on sending more NATO forces to Kosovo.

“I would leave that question to the Supreme Command and other NATO military authorities, to see if in light of recent events, they envisage any reason to change the contingent or the number of troops,” Casey said, adding that there had been no messages from the field that an increase in forces would be needed.

Asked whether other NATO members had the right to create military bases in Kosovo, he said that “Kosovo is a newly independent country” and that it has “a sovereign government.”

All NATO decisions would be taken in accordance with the Kosovo government and every decision on work on the ground would be made according to the existing agreement, Casey said.