Coc SE Chronicle 2012 Green Draft.Indd
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www.nato.int/kfor The KFOR magazine Special Edition September 2012 KFOR CHRONICLE Change of Command Ceremony COMKFOR’s IN KFOR 1 Lieutenant General Mike Jackson United Kingdom from 9. June 1999 to 8. October 1999 2 Lieutenant General Klaus Reinhardt Germany from 8. October 1999 to 18. April 2000 3 Lieutenant General Juan Ortuño Spain from 18. April 2000 to 16. October 2000 4 Lieutenant General Carlo Cabigiosu Italy from 16. October 2000 to April 2001 5 Lieutenant General Thorstein Skiaker Norway from April 2001 to 7. February 2002 6 Lieutenant General Marcel M. Valentin France from 7. February 2002 to 4. October 2002 7 Lieutenant General Fabio Mini Italy from 4. October 2002 to 3. September 2003 8 Lieutenant General Holger Kammerhoff Germany from 3. September 2003 to 31. August 2004 9 Lieutenant General Yves de Kermabon France from 1. September 2004 to 31. August 2005 10 Lieutenant General Giuseppe Valotto Italy from 31. August 2005 to 1. September 2006 11 Lieutenant General Roland Kather Germany from 1. September 2006 to 31. August 2007 12 Lieutenant General Xavier de Marnhac France from 31. August 2007 to 29. August 2008 13 Lieutenant General Giuseppe Emilio Gay Italy from 29. August 2008 to 8. September 2009 14 Lieutenant General Markus Bentler Germany from 8. September 2009 to 1. September 2010 15 Major General Erhard Bühler Germany from 1. September 2010 to 9. September 2011 16 Major General Erhard Drews Germany from 9. September 2011 to 7. September 2012 - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - Together as One - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - 2 3 PEACEKEEPERS IN KFOR - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - Together as One - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - 4 5 Change of Command Speech MAJOR GENERAL ERHARD DRE Madam President, as Kosovo continued to NATO and I want to thank President of the Assembly of develop and improve and I you for your leadership over Kosovo, am impressed with the great the past months. Your support Mister Prime Minister, strides it has made in spite of and the confi dence you have Excellencies, all the challenges it continues shown in KFOR have played Generals, to face. Even considering a large role in the success of My fellow soldiers, all these challenges I have KFOR and the progress we Distinguished guests, every confi dence that made. Thank You. Kosovo will one day serve t is a true honor to have you for others as an example to Iall join this event today as I see how people coming out Please allow me now to complete my tour of duty and of a situation of terrible fear shortly address my fellow welcome the next commander and political deadlock, join soldiers: of KFOR. forces in working for these As I close out my tour here Of all the positions and common dreams of prosperity, in Kosovo I refl ect back assignments an offi cer can ambitions realized and values on the question all soldiers hold; Commander is the most respected. – especially those being coveted, and my time as Kosovo has endured many wounded - ask themselves at the Commander of Kosovo changes over the years but one time or the other: “Did I Forces has by far been the I think it is fair to say that, make a difference?” Without most memorable for me. for the past 13 years, KFOR hesitating I say to you: “Yes, To have been selected to serve has remained a constant. you did make a difference!” as COM KFOR has been both Consistently contributing to a Given the accomplishments an honor and a privilege for safe and secure environment of KFOR over the past year me. Leading soldiers from 30 throughout Kosovo, KFOR I assure you that KFOR has different nations and working has solidifi ed its reputation contributed signifi cantly side by side to provide as a professional force to progress and security, conditions for progress has committed to progress. I especially in the North, were been our objective all along. am honored to have had the the situation was at times As COM KFOR I had opportunity to command this challenging. A commander the opportunity to travel force. cannot achieve anything throughout all of Kosovo. I also want to express my without his troops and I I have met individuals respect to competent police want to express my sincere and visited municipalities, offi cers and hard working pride and appreciation for cities, towns and villages. KSF members that work with the outstanding manner in I found their hopes and a professional vision and with which the soldiers of KFOR dreams of family, peace and an awareness of the great have performed their duties prosperity to be universal. responsibility that lie with and supported me over the I had the great pleasure to those that serve the public. past year, even in critical have partaken in the many Your contribution to Kosovo situations. My dear soldiers, traditions that refl ect the is vital. you have always put the rich and diverse heritage of Admiral Clingan, Sir: It has mission and the team fi rst. I Kosovo. I have witnessed been an honor to work for thank you for that! I am proud - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - EWS Together as One to have led such a capable new heights and I wish you all spirit and continuing the force. the best. proud tradition of KFOR: And now to my German To see troops from nations the your motto is “FORWARD comrade who will take world over soldiering side by TOGETHER”. the reins of KFOR. Gen side and to work alongside In closing; I wish you, Halbauer, as the next COM with them for progress in General, KFOR and all people KFOR you will soon lead the Kosovo was an experience in Kosovo continued success highly capable, motivated and best refl ected in our motto: as you move “FORWARD professional troops of KFOR “TOGETHER AS ONE” TOGETHER”. and I am sure the soldiers of However, all commands Thank you very much for KFOR will support you in come to an end and the time your attention. the same outstanding manner has come for the changing that I have experienced. In of the guard. You, General parting, I have no doubt that Halbauer, chose a new you will lead KFOR on to motto maintaining the team - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - 6 7 CONCEPT OF OPERATION Contribute to maintain a Safe and Secure Environmemt and Freedom of Movement s a result of the deteriora- nority of self-interested individu- of Movement on all the transit Ation in the security situation als. KFOR responded to the ag- roads throughout northern Kosovo north of the Ibar river, KFOR was gression and provocations with two has been restored. challenged directly to confront the principles in mind: achieving the threat to Freedom of Movement tactical objective and minimizing posed by the erection of barricades the number of injured. As a result on many of the main roads there. of KFOR actions there is only bar- KFOR’s resolve was self-evident ricade left and that is on Austerlitz in light of violence offered by a mi- Bridge in Mitrovica. Full Freedom Enhance cooperation with the Institutions in Kosovo and International Civilian Presences he improving situation in over from KFOR to the KP in June line of operation took place when Tsouthern Kosovo allows KFOR 2012. This is the seventh site of KFOR actions jointly with EULEX to transfer responsibility for the nine Properties with Designated and KP, greatly assisted the OSCE safeguarding of Religious and Cul- Special Status to be handed over facilitated balloting process during tural Heritage Sites to the Institu- since March 2010, the aim is to the Serbian elections in Kosovo in tions in Kosovo. Following a deci- facilitate a dignifi ed monastic cul- May. This was an example of what sion by the North Atlantic Council, ture as it has been part of Kosovo the International Community as a the responsibility for the protection for centuries. Another signifi cant whole together with the Institutions of Devic Monastery was handed step in fulfi lling tasks of the second in Kosovo can achieve. - KFOR Chronicle Special Edition 09/2012 - FOUR LINES Conduct proactive and comprehensive communications hrough coordinated actions, and abroad. All these activities had mayors. The regular coordination Tmessages and products, at a positive effect on the security of communication and coopera- many levels, information about situation in Kosovo. As part of the tion with others were designed to KFOR’s plans and activities was Key Leader Engagement pro- provide coherent and harmonised always effectively available to cess, KFOR leadership conducted support to the other three Lines of local and international media regular meetings with the highest Operation. representatives. Many high level authorities in the Institutions in meetings were organized in KFOR Kosovo, religious leaders, mu- Headquarters, throughout Kosovo nicipality representatives and city Assist to strengthen the Kosovo Security Force / ministry of the Kosovo Security Force capabilities FOR’s Military Civil Ad- KFOR’s recommendation towards in assisting the civilian population Kvisory Division (MCAD) reaching Final Operational Ca- is vital as evidenced in Restelica in supervises the monitoring, men- pability (FOC) but this does not February in a successful rescue op- toring and advising of the KSF represent the end of the develop- eration during severe snows when until the force is judged by a NAC ment of KSF. Indeed more effort avalanches had already claimed 10 decision to be capable of operating, is required, the KSF is still some lives in the worst winter in Kosovo in accordance with internationally- way off the self-sustainable levels since 1984.