"KFOR prepared for all eventualities"

KFOR commander Xavier Bout de Marnhac fears an outbreak of violence in Kosovo following the failure of the status talks.

Izvor: Tanjug

Thursday, 29.11.2007.

11:51

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KFOR commander Xavier Bout de Marnhac fears an outbreak of violence in Kosovo following the failure of the status talks. “It will be difficult,“ de Marnhac told reporters in Washington via video link yesterday. "KFOR prepared for all eventualities" Nonetheless, the French general expressed optimism concerning the capabilities of his 16,000-strong contingent to deal with any possible riots or violence, pointing out that, as a last resort, NATO had also prepared its reserve forces. However, de Marnhac demanded clear instructions from the international community on future developments concerning the question of status, and the measures his forces should take in Kosovo, especially in the Serb-dominated northern part of the province. He said that “the Serbian authorities have strengthened their influence in Serb enclaves in Kosovo“, which, he added, suggested that “Belgrade is considering some form of parallel governance in that region.“ The KFOR commander also stressed that an emerging problem was the ability of the Kosovo Police Service to meet its commitments in the potential vacuum created by the transferral of power from UNMIK to the future EU mission to the province. “What most concerns me is the vacuum that might develop during the changeover of police forces,“ de Marnhac emphasized. He added that “tension between the Kosovo Serbs and Albanians will come to a biological end,“ given that the average age of the Albanian population was 28, compared to 54 among the Serbs. “In the medium term, a biological end is in sight, as one of the peoples will, you know, simply disappear,“ concluded the French general. Xavier Bout de Marnhac (EPA, Tanjug, archive)

"KFOR prepared for all eventualities"

Nonetheless, the French general expressed optimism concerning the capabilities of his 16,000-strong contingent to deal with any possible riots or violence, pointing out that, as a last resort, NATO had also prepared its reserve forces.

However, de Marnhac demanded clear instructions from the international community on future developments concerning the question of status, and the measures his forces should take in Kosovo, especially in the Serb-dominated northern part of the province.

He said that “the Serbian authorities have strengthened their influence in Serb enclaves in Kosovo“, which, he added, suggested that “Belgrade is considering some form of parallel governance in that region.“

The KFOR commander also stressed that an emerging problem was the ability of the Kosovo Police Service to meet its commitments in the potential vacuum created by the transferral of power from UNMIK to the future EU mission to the province.

“What most concerns me is the vacuum that might develop during the changeover of police forces,“ de Marnhac emphasized.

He added that “tension between the Kosovo Serbs and Albanians will come to a biological end,“ given that the average age of the Albanian population was 28, compared to 54 among the Serbs.

“In the medium term, a biological end is in sight, as one of the peoples will, you know, simply disappear,“ concluded the French general.

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