NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that KFOR will continue to maintain its presence in Kosovo and contribute to preserving stability and peace, regardless of developments that may follow the announcement of the verdict against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in The Hague.
Responding to a question from a Reuters journalist regarding the situation in Kosovo and the verdict expected to be announced on Wednesday against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, Rutte said that KFOR “is there,” regardless of what news may emerge.
“KFOR is there to make sure that NATO continues to contribute to stability and peace,” Rutte said.
He stressed that NATO’s presence in Kosovo has helped provide a safe and stable environment for citizens for more than two decades.
“And that is also true today, regardless of whatever news might come this week or in the period ahead,” the NATO Secretary General said.
Rutte also emphasized that the Alliance’s commitment to peace and security in Kosovo is long-term and will continue.
According to him, NATO will continue to assess the most appropriate configuration of KFOR and how the mission can best adapt to the specific situation in Kosovo.
“This means continuously assessing what the best configuration of KFOR is and how it can best adapt to the specific situation,” Rutte said, adding that developments in Kosovo also have an impact on the stability of the entire region.
The verdict against the four former KLA leaders is expected to be announced on Wednesday, September 16, by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
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