The new commander of KFOR is appointed

The Major General of the Italian army, Enrico Barduani, has also officially taken over the task of the head of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

Barduani is described as a good connoisseur of the Balkan region.

Major General of the Turkish Army, Ozkan Ulutash, held this position for one year.

Ulutash has mentioned that KFOR fully supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as the only platform for resolving all disagreements between the two parties.

He has been honored with medals for his dedication in this and other NATO missions.

The highest heads of state have participated in this ceremony, including the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani and the prime minister, Albin Kurti.

Osmani said that the people and institutions of Kosovo will work closely with KFOR and international partners to guarantee security for its citizens.

"Our children are the first generation in the history of our nation that does not know war. By working together, let's make sure it stays that way."

She spoke about the various security challenges that Kosovo has experienced in the last 25 years, singling out last year's attack in Banjska, in the north of Kosovo.

In that attack carried out by a Serbian group, which Kosovo considers terrorist and blames the state of Serbia, the sergeant, Afrim Bunjaku, was killed.

In the exchange of fire, three Serbian attackers were also killed.

The responsibility for the attack was taken by the former vice-president of the Serbian List, Millan Radoicic.

Kosovo authorities have indicted him and dozens of other people who are believed to be at large in Serbia. Three of them are arrested in Kosovo.

Currently, KFOR has over 4,400 military troops in Kosovo.

NATO has increased its presence in Kosovo during 2023, after the increase in tensions in the north inhabited by a majority of Serbs./ REL