KFOR CHRONICLE THE MAGAZINE FOR KFOR PEOPLE June 2020 K9 MILITARY WORKING DOGS OUR 21ST ANNIVERSARY # NATO 2030 CONTENT You can imagine the Aroma’s coming from this dumpster truck. Still German Shepherd Chara remains totally focused on the task of detecting explosive material under the watchful eye and direction of her dog handler OR-4 Denis Ivanov from the Ukrainian Army. ST OUR 21 ANNIVERSARY Two Commemorations MG Michele Risi p.3 Kosovo; Then and Now Col Mario Renna p. 4 STORY OF THE MONTH K9 Military Working Dogs Comdt. Brian Lynch p.6 FROM THE FIELD Support Social Services RC-E PAO Staff p.10 Polish on Patrol p.10 Patrolling Pec Capt. Emanuele Colini p.11 Watch and Shoot p.11 SNAPSHOTS KFOR’s Activities in Pictures KFOR PAO Staff P.12 TROOPS OF KFOR Train Hard Lt. Beata Sarkany p.15 KFOR NEWS Chief of Staff – Transfer of Authority KFOR PAO Staff p.17 High level meetings & more p.18 #NATO 2030 p.19 An Important International Day Maj. Dr. Elisabeth Schleicher p.21 PROFILES Austria, Greece, Slovenia p.22 PHOTO OF THE MONTH ‘Brothers & Sisters in Arms’ Capt. Nadine Wiley De Moura p.23 2 OUR 21ST ANNIVERSARY “Dear KFOR Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, More NATO and other contributing countries joined Carabinieri, Civilian Personnel. We gather here today KFOR at a later stage, some left after years of to commemorate the day in which at dawn of 21 service. I want to thank all those whose engagements years ago our senior colleagues touched the Kosovo contributed to making KFOR the most trusted soil. It was a very challenging expedition. Some of you international presence in Kosovo. Moreover, I want might have heard the stories from the veterans of ’99. to praise the many national staff that assisted us Most of the troops moved from Skopje and Kumanovo; loyally and professionally in a variety of logistics. Our Germans, Emiratis, Jordanians and Moroccans thought goes as well to all those who lost their life through Kukes, in Albania, others joined from Bosnia in the cause of peace. Lest we forget, as it is marked Hercegovina. Ten of thousands uniformed personnel in the memorial stone outside of the HQs entrance. took their position on time, as scheduled by the high The mission, as you know, is not over. We should keep commands in Naples and Brussels, under the superb the spirit, the freshness and the enthusiasm of our leadership of Lt-Gen Sir Michael Jackson, from the predecessors. We should stand united for a better UK Army, assisted by five sector commanding generals: Kosovo. John Craddock (US), Bruno Cuche (FR), Mauro Del God bless KFOR, God bless NATO!” Vecchio (IT), Bill Rollo (UK), Fritz von Korff (GER). But I cannot avoid mentioning the chief architect Major General Michele Risi COM KFOR of the entire operation, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Wesley Clark. It was an exemplary deployment, something that became This solemn ceremony marked the 21st anniversary a case study for unit commanders, strategists and of KFOR, where we remembered our fallen com- historians. As I said, it was an extremely demanding rades. Presided over by Commander KFOR Major undertaking. Thanks to the professional behavior of General Risi, his speech above paid tribute to those KFOR soldiers the difficulties were overcome. The soldiers who paid the ultimate price in the cause of , presence of many UXO s rendered the terrain very peace in Kosovo. dangerous, our EOD teams worked round the clock The following day MG Risi gathered with Right to clear paths and buildings. KFOR troops traveled Honorable Speaker Vjosa Osmani and many other non-stop up to three days in order to reach their AOR members of parliament along with members of the Today I want to pay tribute to serviceman and women Diplomatic Corps at Nënë Theresa St. in Pristina, to from Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, once again commemorate all those who lost their Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, lives. “Our thoughts and gratitude goes also to the inter- Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, national partners who assisted and integrated our overall Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, mission: I want to remember the late Sergio Vieira de Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovak Republic, Mello along with Dr Bernard Kouchner of UNMIK, OSCE Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Ambassador Daan Everts and UNHCR Envoy Dennis United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States McNamara. My heart goes out as well to all those who who were the first to serve under our flag. lost their life in the cause of peace”. 3 KOSOVO THEN AND NOW ommemorations are difficult. have lost their lives to keep the stability was not easy. In recent CWe delve into a past that is peace, so this day is also dedicated years, in some cases Kosovo has painful, full of hurt and wrongs to their commemoration. The experienced tensions. Today the and sacrifice. ’Lest we forget’ are KFOR mission mandated by situation is stable. This is largely the three simple words inscribed the United Nations remains the result of the work done by on the monument stone outside unchanged. NATO also continues security organizations in Kosovo, KFOR Headquarters, reminding us- to resolutely support dialogue which have undergone impressive telling us- we must never forget. between Belgrade and Pristina, as development, with the support But commemorations are also an the only lasting political solution to of KFOR and other international opportunity to reflect on where the ongoing issues; this is essential community actors. Thanks to we are now, and where we would for local security and more broadly the overall improvement of the like to be. The Kosovo of today is for the stability of the Western situation, KFOR was able to reduce a much different Kosovo to the Balkans region. So, in general, the the number of troops from 55,000 one KFOR entered into 21 years NATO-led KFOR mission remains in 1999 to just over 3,400 today. ago, and KFOR has, and continues a necessary factor of stability Comparing the challenges we to play an important role in that for Kosovo’s future and regional face today, with the challenges of change. security. our predecessors, MG Risi said In a wide ranging interview Noting the difficult road to stability, undoubtedly, the biggest and most following the commemorations, MG Risi continued, in 1999 KFOR complex challenge has been the MG Risi reflected on the Kosovo was faced with a difficult security outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, of then and now; Twenty-one environment in Kosovo. Tens of which has posed a threat to years ago, with the arrival of the thousands of soldiers entered in the health of all communities in first troops of the NATO-led the devastated Kosovo, inhabited Kosovo and has put Kosovo’s KFOR mission, Kosovo entered a by a frightened population. Many economy in social strain. All of new period of peace and stability. issues were present at the time, our efforts have been supported This anniversary represents an including - among other things by the following information- opportunity to reflect on the many - the threat of armed conflict based principle: to ensure that a significant achievements that have and unexploded ordnances, the health crisis does not turn into a been made to date, thanks to the lack of water and electricity, security crisis. KFOR’s ability to protection and security, where and numerous restrictions on conduct operations every day has along with freedom of movement freedom of movement. Within not weakened. Otherwise, our since 1999, thousands of KFOR a short period of time, KFOR, troops have continued patrols men and women have offered it all in close cooperation with other and liaison and monitoring teams to citizens of Kosovo, regardless international organizations, have continued to carry out their of ethnicity, under the mandate of restores order and security, activities, taking all preventive UN Security Council Resolution thus making an extremely great measures in accordance with 1244. This date is an opportunity contribution to the progressive the guidelines of the World - also more important, to look to return to normalcy of the daily Health Organization. COM the future. Some KFOR soldiers life of Kosovars. The road to KFOR engaged with all relevant 4 ministerial authorities to promote staff, where we have identified any final mutual agreement, which cooperation, for the benefit of all some positive cases. All of them would contribute to the region communities. were immediately treated and in reaching peace, stability and KFOR has supported the response evacuated. Currently we have no sustainability”. KFOR will continue to COVID-19 pandemics in a reported cases, but we insist on its mission to maintain safe and variety of ways, including donating its prevention, as the virus has secure environment and freedom significant amounts of personal not been defeated and we still of movement for as long as needed, protective equipment - in have to fight it. We must remain and we fully support EU facilitated coordination with local charities vigilant. Therefore, KFOR troops Belgrade-Prishtina dialogue. This is and the Red Cross of Kosovo. We are expected to deliver personal key for regional peace and stability. have also facilitated the delivery of protective equipment financed There will be no real perspective aid to many Kosovo municipalities, by NATO, to medical facilities in for a better future in Balkans which has been provided by allied various municipalities in Kosovo. for Serbs or Albanians without countries contributing troops COM KFOR acknowledged some full respect of human rights and to KFOR, such as Austria, Italy, security challenges still remain.