"Small NATO force to remain in Kosovo"

Newly-appointed NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that KFOR should be reduced to a small reaction force.

Izvor: Beta

Tuesday, 04.08.2009.

09:52

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Newly-appointed NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that KFOR should be reduced to a small reaction force. "That is, that all of us leave Kosovo together" by the end of his term as the head of the Atlantic alliance, he was quoted as saying in Brussels on Monday. "Small NATO force to remain in Kosovo" Speaking to the press after assuming his duties, Rasmussen said he believes that "in the foreseeable future, the conditions will be right to withdraw KFOR completely". He added that KFOR can be downsized due to achievements in the field. Rasmussen went on to say that he is fully committed to NATO's "open door" policy for the Balkans and basically for a Euro-Atlantic alliance. "A membership in NATO is not a special right. Countries must be ready for that," Rasmussen explained, adding: "The expansion of NATO has already demonstrated its power to spread stability and encourage reforms." "Kosovo is a success story and it is therefore possible to reduce our presence there," according to Rasmussen. "On Kosovo, my aim is clear," Rasmussen said, adding: "By the end of my term, I want to see KFOR reduced to just a small reaction force, or out altogether." "It must not be done in a hasty fashion," Rasmussen noted. "We should not stumble so close to the finish line. But I believe that conditions in the foreseeable future will be right to withdraw KFOR successfully." Asked whether a part of the NATO troops that will be withdrawn from Kosovo will be deployed to Afghanistan, Rasmussen replied that "the downsizing of KFOR should be separated from the International Forces for the Stabilization of Afghanistan".

"Small NATO force to remain in Kosovo"

Speaking to the press after assuming his duties, Rasmussen said he believes that "in the foreseeable future, the conditions will be right to withdraw KFOR completely".

He added that KFOR can be downsized due to achievements in the field.

Rasmussen went on to say that he is fully committed to NATO's "open door" policy for the Balkans and basically for a Euro-Atlantic alliance.

"A membership in NATO is not a special right. Countries must be ready for that," Rasmussen explained, adding: "The expansion of NATO has already demonstrated its power to spread stability and encourage reforms."

"Kosovo is a success story and it is therefore possible to reduce our presence there," according to Rasmussen.

"On Kosovo, my aim is clear," Rasmussen said, adding: "By the end of my term, I want to see KFOR reduced to just a small reaction force, or out altogether."

"It must not be done in a hasty fashion," Rasmussen noted. "We should not stumble so close to the finish line. But I believe that conditions in the foreseeable future will be right to withdraw KFOR successfully."

Asked whether a part of the NATO troops that will be withdrawn from Kosovo will be deployed to Afghanistan, Rasmussen replied that "the downsizing of KFOR should be separated from the International Forces for the Stabilization of Afghanistan".

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