KFOR CHRONICLE The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers June 2014 AARRRRIIVVAALL OOFF VVTTLLMM LLIINNCCEE AARRMMOOUURREEDD VVEEHHIICCLLEE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF NATO IN KOSOVO www.nato.int/kfor CONTENT NELLI O M o SI ori Vitt RE: U T C PI KFOR Summer Family Festival in CFC - children of CFC civilian staff participate in activities organised by KFOR troops. 03 COM KFOR ADDRESS 04 Kosovo Comes of Age ELECTIONS Kosovo General Elections 08 AUSTERLITZ BRIDGE 12 Mitrovica June 18-22 HOLIDAYS St. Vidovdan’s Day 14 ANNIVERSARY 15 15th Anniversary of NATO in KFOR Kosovo COS KFOR Transfer of Responsibility 16 HIGH LEVEL TALKS 18 KFOR / Serbian ROAD PROJECT Armed Forces Football Match Novo Brdo Road Project 19 ToA CEREMONY 20 Camp Marechal de Lattre de CSMs ACTIVITIES Tassigny in Novo Selo CSMs Framework of Activities Camp Slim Lines 21 PROFILES Christine Eimer 22 Andrei Cojocaru SUDOKU An activity for the brain 23 PICTURE OF THE MONTH Your chance to be a part of it! 22 KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 OPENING ADDRESS COM KFOR KOSOVO COMES OF AGE Th e fi rst half of 2014 ended this JUNE with a very high OPTEMPO month for KFOR and for Kosovo as well. Th e month held many challenges due to the Kosovo wide Parliamentary Election, the new situation at the Austerlitz Bridge and the annual Vidovdan celebration. Each of these events contained the seeds for strife and discord and possible violence but in each case, the few cases of possible violence were quelled by the prepared and resolute security was a key to allow the successful operations by the KP elements of the Institutions in Kosovo (IiK). and EULEX. Kosovo has a long history of ethnic strife between Th e Vidovdan religious celebration on 29 June was its many peoples. Th ese long term issues culminated the third signifi cant event of the month showing the in the violence which necessitated the formation of changes and advancement of SASE and FOM in Kosovo. KFOR and NATO intercession to quell the violence. Th e Serbian Orthodox Church’s annual celebration has Over the last 15 years, we as KFOR, in cooperation been marred in the past by KoA acts of isolated violence with our international partners, have worked with against KoS pilgrims coming to Kosovo to celebrate the IiK in an eff ort to contribute to a Safe and Secure the holiday. Th e KP, EULEX and KFOR again planned environment and Freedom of Movement, allowing actions to deal with any inter-ethnic violence. All of the the building of a free and democratic Kosovo for the organizations deployed in accordance with their plans. people and to ensure that the security elements of the Th ere were no incidents at all and all parties acted in an IiK, namely, the Kosovo Police (KP) is capable of taking effi cient and professional manner. full responsibility. Th ere will always be issues and disagreements between Th e last year has seen multiple electoral tournament the various factions in Kosovo as it usually can happen in municipal elections and the nationwide parliamentary many other parts of the world. Sometimes those issues election on 8 JUNE. KFOR, EULEX and the KP in their may move from peaceful disagreements or protests to roles as 3rd, 2nd and 1st responder have prepared and isolated violence. In the past, there was more violence acted in each election. In every occasion, the KP has and the KP was not yet ready to deal with incidents. improved their planning and execution. On June 8th, Today, we are seeing fewer incidents on the part of the they demonstrated their ability to plan, coordinate, peoples of Kosovo, who now understand that peaceful train and execute a nation-wide election. Th e June interaction is the key to advancing their agendas. Parliamentary Election went well with no reported Other events of note in June include the KSF road incidents and the election was secured on the ground by construction project in NOVO BRDO in concert with the KP and external assistance by EULEX or KFOR was KFOR and NLAT and the KSF construction of a bridge not required. Th is was a great example of the capability in the municipality of KLINA. of the KP in keeping the election secure and was also an To conclude, we can say that this very busy month excellent indicator of the maturity and the will of all the of June, 2014 has witnessed further progress both in peoples of Kosovo, including the KoS, who came out to the capability of the Kosovo Security Organizations vote in large numbers. and even more importantly, in the maturity and Th e situation at the Austerlitz Bridge has been ongoing democratic behavior of all the peoples of Kosovo. since 2011 but the new co called “garden of peace” KFOR will continue to operate in synergy “More established on 18 June has reignited tensions in the area. Together” with all the International and IiK actors On 22 June, SASE in MITROVICA was challenged by towards the consolidation of peace and security and the KoA demonstrations against the new “barricade”. Th e accomplishment of our mission KP, EULEX and KFOR had proactively responded to the I commend the tremendous work made by all the area in order to face a planned demonstration march. KFOR Soldiers, Staff and Commanders at various levels Th e spontaneous demonstration initially assessed within KFOR. You are really making the diff erence. to be peaceful turned out to be violent due to some Well Done & More Together! hardline elements. Th is did not surprise the security cordons at the bridge and the violent protestors were MAJOR-GENERAL met with a professional response by the KP even as the Salvatore FARINA crowd escalated to a low to medium level of violence. Th e KP responded with a proportionate level of force, CCOOMM KKFFOORR dispelling the crowd. KFOR was present at the bridge in our role as 3rd Responder: our involvement was not required, but our presence, aimed to discourage inter- ethnic clashes was reassuring, dissuaded both sides and KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 3 ELECTIONS KOSOVO GENERAL ELECTIONS Kosovo held general elections for the Kosovo Assembly on Sunday, 08 June 2014. Th e prelude to the elections was marked by political debate, election advertising and administrative preparation by the Central Elections Commission to prepare for the many people expected to vote. Th is peaceful prelude to the general elections indicated progress in the region and the will to conduct the normal business of a democracy without fear of violence or discrimination. In addition to those resident in held by some analysts to be more Kosovo, some non-resident people KFOR planned for the elections suitable when a wider community outside of Kosovo were eligible to to ensure a Safe and Secure and range of political interests need vote also, subject to certain criteria. Environment for the many ethnic to be represented. Th erefore voters Th ere were approximately 730,000 groups who wished to vote. Th is can vote in order of preferences, and eligible voters and an additional was done in cooperation with the the lower votes become crucial as 20,000 voters who could vote Kosovo Police and EULEX, and the the rounds of counting progresses. subject to certain conditions and voters and the citizens of Kosovo One feature of this system is that it could enter their ballots by mail. enjoyed a peaceful day of elections encourages a range of parties and uninterrupted by any incidents. candidates, and tends to prevent a KFOR was present mostly in the two-party system emerging, so that north in its role as third responder, Th ere were 798 polling centres many sides subsequently have a supporting the Kosovo Police and in the 38 municipalities of voice in the Assembly. EULEX as they provided a presence Kosovo which enabled maximum of multinational troops at the polling availability to all the citizens. Kosovo Major General Farina, COM KFOR, centres to deter any interruption to uses a representative system of noted “Th e peaceful mood in which voting. Elsewhere, KFOR was on elections, allowing candidate to get the elections were held demonstrates, standby to respond if required. preferential votes. Th is system is once again, the democratic maturity 4 KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 ELECTIONS and sense of civic duty which animates all the people of Kosovo and the high degree of effi ciency and professionalism of the Kosovo Police. Th e large participation of citizens of diff erent ethnic groups and minorities are a clear manifestation of the democratic spirit which distinguishes the citizens of this part of the Balkans.” COMKFOR then extended his personal appreciation to the President of Kosovo Madam Atifete Jahjaga, to the Minister of Interior Mr. Bajram Rexhepi, to the General Director of Kosovo Police Mr. Shpend Maxhuni and to the Kosovo Police Regional Commander North Nenad Djuric underlining the determinant contribution provided CAVE by the Kosovo Police in ensuring DELLE a safe and secure environment to ni ovan all citizens who went to the polls RE: Gi considering these elections a ‘success TU story for Kosovo’, a milestone in the C PI KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 5 ELECTIONS process of normalization of relations the preparation for elections security operation supporting the between Pristina and Belgrade was also an example of the close democratic process in Kosovo. It is and an example of democracy and cooperation between KFOR, the a sign that the voting community is pluralism. Kosovo Police, EULEX, and the also developing, as a good turnout OSCE, who planned and worked indicates trust and faith that a Th e successful election day and together to provide the seamless democratic system is working and NELLI O M o SI ori Vitt RE: U T C PI 6 KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 ELECTIONS NELLI O M o SI ori Vitt RE: U T C PI can work for the people of Kosovo. of political thought. Th ese factors and social progress is possible. Parties have identifi ed that their combined show a move towards the supporters remain consistent and kind of democratic and inclusive Lt Cdr Hobbins that there should not be any major society originally envisaged for OF-3 IRL N surprises, indicating a stabilisation Kosovo, and one in which economic AVE C DELLE ni n ova Gi RE: U T C PI KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 7 AUSTERLITZ BRIDGE AUSTERLITZ BRIDGE MITROVICA JUNE 18-22 Th e Ibar river fl ows though Mitrovica dividing the town into the northern and southern halves. Th e prominent crossing point is the Austerlitz Bridge, a vehicular bridge linking the two halves of the city. Although both Albanian and Serbian communities live on both sides of the river, the northern municipality is more representative of Serbs, and the southern, Albanians. Th erefore, the link between the two communities in both structure and symbol is the bridge. Th is natural chokepoint has been barricaded since 2011, when KOS objected to Kosovo Police activity and protested by using rubble and other materials to block the bridge. Freedom of Movement is not aff ected as there are other routes to access either side of the city. It has remained in this condition since then up until June 18 this year when there was brief moment of intense activity. Th ere was hope initially that the old negativity was dispensed with, but this was short lived. On June 18 there was an organised unusual move was welcomed by deployed a Quick Reaction Force unannounced move involving all sides as a progressive move to monitor the situation, there was people and excavating machinery and an indication of some change. no incident. and trucks which removed all the Th is was not totally incorrect, as barricades from the bridge. Th is change did come. Although KFOR 8 KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 AUSTERLITZ BRIDGE AVE (2) C DELLE ni n ova Gi RE: U T C PI Late that day, trucks and earth again blocked. be arranged/removed only aft er moving machinery arrived with soil, Th e new type of obstacle became a political agreement. greenery, heavy concrete plant pots, source of tension as both community A protest was organised by and garden furniture and people and political leaders called for the Albanian community and proceeded to block the bridge with its removal. KFOR was in situ as advertised to take place at 1500 hrs these materials. Th e materials were always monitoring all activity, with on 22 June, calling for the removal landscaped and arranged to resemble the understanding that this was to of any barricade from the bridge. a park although the bridge was once remain a political symbol that would KFOR augmented its presence KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014 9 AUSTERLITZ BRIDGE at the bridge as third responder called for people to exercise their KFOR posture as third responder to to assist the Kosovo Police and freedom to protest in a peaceful and back up Kosovo Police and EULEX EULEX (fi rst and second responders controlled manner and the majority worked well to reassure all present respectively) for crowd control and of the people who turned up did. and to dissuade further escalation. to deal with any threats to a Safe and However, there was unfortunately KFOR did intervene and was Secure Environment or Freedom some violent elements in the crowd successful in preventing the cordon of Movement. Th e aim of KFORs who used aggression and attempted being breached which stopped any robust deployment on the bridge to breach the Kosovo Police cordon. interethnic violence. Th e violent was to avoid interethnic clashes. Missiles and petrol bombs were protestors then damaged some KFOR and political leaders used against the police and the robust vehicles but they were dispersed by 10 KFOR CHRONICLE 06/2014