Balkans, 230 Italian soldiers to strengthen the NATO mission in Kosovo, here is who they are and what their role is
The Italian military will operate for a three-month mandate under the direct command of the KFOR Commander and will reinforce the NATO presence mainly in the eastern sector of Kosovo, including the area where the bridge over the Ibar river is located, which separates an important Serbian enclave from the majority ethnic Albanian population
by Andrea Carli
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Key points
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The recurring tensions between Kosovar and Serbian authorities have prompted the Atlantic Alliance, engaged in the stabilisation of the Balkans, to strengthen its presence on the ground. The latest step in this strategy took shape in the last few hours, when a reserve operational force composed of Italian military personnel reached Kosovo to support the NATO-led 'Joint Enterprise' mission. It consists of two companies of around 230 soldiers, mostly men and women from the 5th Infantry Regiment of the 'Aosta' Brigade and partly from the Carabinieri Corps. Many of them have already gained experience in other international missions and will join the more than 800 Italian soldiers already in the country. Personnel, vehicles and materials reached Kosovo aboard air, naval and land carriers.
Two companies replaced: one Bulgarian and the other Greek
.The Italian Task Group, which took over from two companies (one Bulgarian, the other Greek) belonging to the Atlantic Alliance's Multinational ORF Battalion, was deployed at seven days' notice, following coordination between NATO Joint Force Command Naples, KFOR Headquarters and the Interforce Summit Operations Command (COVI), which is responsible for planning and directing the 36 interforce missions and operations in which more than 13,000 Italian military personnel are currently engaged in 25 different countries around the world. Currently, 28 countries are taking part in the 'Joint Enterprise' operation in Kosovo, 20 of which belong to NATO and 8 partners, with a total commitment of forces that today amounts to approximately 3800 soldiers.
Precautionary measure
.The deployment of NATO Operational Reserve Forces in Kosovo is a precautionary measure requested by the Commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and authorised by the North Atlantic Council as a result of the continuing unstable situation in the Balkan area, mainly due to the inter-ethnic frictions still existing within some Kosovar communities.
Three-month term
.The Italian military will operate for a three-month mandate under the direct command of the KFOR Commander and will strengthen the NATO presence mainly in the eastern sector of Kosovo, including the area where the bridge over the river Ibar is located, which separates an important Serbian enclave from the majority ethnic Albanian population.
