KFOR CHRONICLE The KFOROR Magazine Magazine for KFOR Soldiers JJanuaryanuary 22017017 KKFORFOR CConductsonducts PPatrolsatrols KKosovoosovo WWideide hhttp://jfcnaples.nato.int/kforttp://jfcnaples.nato.int/kfor hhttp://www.facebook.com/NATOKFOR/ttp://www.facebook.com/NATOKFOR/ hhttps://ttps://fl iic.kr/ps/39kEDhc.kr/ps/39kEDh ttwitter.com/NATO_KFORwitter.com/NATO_KFOR CONTENT COM KFOR delivered his Christmas greeting to civilian personal working in Camp Film City CHRISTMAS GIFTS Italian Children send gift s at EVENTS OF THE MONTH 03 Christmas time. Specific events in Kosovo du- 04 ring the month VIOLENT EXTREMISM Countering Violent Extremism and WINTER IN KOSOVO 06 Radicalization 10 Coldest winter since 1963 KFOR HQ CSM A Visual Overview Striking Realities at the CSMs 12 14 Meeting MNBG W Italian NGO donates medicins to UNHCR 15 Kosovar hospitals Interview with Chief of 16 Mission, UNHCR in Kosovo HEALTH AND FITNESS Recovery in your training schedule 18 KFOR EXERCISE 20 Winter Training PICTURES OF THE MONTH Your Chance to be a Part of It! PROFILES 22 Charalampos Papadimitriou 23 Evangelos Tsikonis 2 KFOR CHRONICLECHRONICLE 0101/2017/2017 CHRISTMAS GIFTS Italian School Children send gifts at Christmas time to Italian soldiers serving in Kosovo Young Italian Children from De Amicis Primary school and Carducci Secondary School, in the province of Lecce, together with their Municipality administrators, have displayed great acts of kindness by sending gift s to Italian Soldiers serving in Kosovo on a peace keeping mission at Christmas time. Th ese gift s, drawings and letters which were sent to the Italian Soldiers serving in Multi Battle Group West (MNBG-W) were graciously received by the KFOR Italian soldiers serving in Village Italia. Th e Italian soldiers have organised an exhibition of all the Drawings to acknowledge their delight of this very thoughtful act. A gift at Christmas time is always welcome. KFORKFOR CHRONICLECHRONICLE 01/201701/2017 3 WINTER IN KOSOVO KOSOVO EXPERIENCES ITS COLDEST WINTER SINCE 1963 During the last few weeks, with their mission despite these and the heavy snow fall experienced Kosovo has experienced its lowest diffi culties. Here in Camp Film City in “Camp Film City” did not have temperatures since 1963. Th ere have we were no diff erent from the other any serious eff ect on Camp routine, been past winters where greater snow KFOR Camps located throughout this is to a large extent thanks to fall was experienced, but this year Kosovo. Th e very low temperatures the Commander and staff of the temperatures plummeted to a low of -32 degrees Centigrade, which was recorded in the Eastern Kosovo city of Gjilan. During the month of January it was a common experience for KFOR soldiers located throughout Kosovo to conduct their duties in temperatures close to – 20 degrees Centigrade. When temperatures fall to these low levels there are normally consequences. Hazardous road conditions aff ecting driving, logistical challenges, maintenance problems such as frozen or burst pipes and many others. However these challenges had to be overcome and KFOR soldiers continued 4 KFOR CHRONICLECHRONICLE 0101/2017/2017 WINTER IN KOSOVO HSG and ASDA who throughout Kosovo’s Climate diff erent regions. Diff erent cultures, this period ensured that all services Located in the central part of customs and climate to mention a where maintained and roads and the Balkans, Kosovo’s weather is few. One KFOR Soldier was reported footpaths were kept open. (Th ank infl uenced by many factors, the as saying that the last time his home you from us all!) two greatest being the Alpine and town experienced snow was when the Mediterranean infl uences. Th e his father was a child. climate is predominantly continental, So what lies ahead of us over the resulting in warm summers and cold next few weeks? Can we expect this winters. Th e normal yearly range is current cold spell to last for much between + 30 degrees Centigrade longer? Well the short term weather in the summer and – 10 degrees forecast shows an increase in Centigrade in the winter. December temperatures in the coming weeks, and January are regarded as the which will result in melting snow coldest months. Other factors that and possibly a bit of local fl ooding aff ect Kosovo’s weather are its and excess water on road surfaces. mountainous regions and it height For those drivers out there, continue above sea level. Its average altitude is to drive with caution. Well-done to 800 metres above sea level. (Kosovo all KFOR personnel for maintaining lowest point is 297 metres and its a high operational output during the highest is 2,565 metres). Th e fact coldest winter since 1963! that most of Kosovo is surrounded by mountains has also a direct eff ect on its climate. Th e weather witnessed by KFOR Maj. Eamonn Kenneally soldiers over the past few weeks is OF-3 IRL-A just another part of the experiences of serving overseas and operating in KFORKFOR CHRONICLECHRONICLE 01/201701/2017 5 VIOLENT EXTREMISM COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND RADICALIZATION Introduction: Violent extremism and the fundamental powers of radicalisation have to be considered as one of the most high risk challenges to democratic societies across the globe today. As soldiers whose primary task it is to ensure a safe and secure environment in whatever theatre we may be operating in, it is paramount that all of us have an understanding of what the threat is and what can be done to counter it. First of all, it has to be acknowledged that the threat is real. For one to assume that the potential capacity for violent extremism does not exist in any of our home nations or in the countries where we may deploy, is probably being naive to say the least. So the potential threat is out there! We have to accept that. It is important to understand that violent extremism is not limited to persons of any particular age, sex, group or community. In fact it is the younger person who is more vulnerable to the dangers of being recruited by extremist or terrorist groups. Defi nition: Violent extremism refers to the beliefs and actions of people who support or use ideological- motivated violence to achieve radical ideological, religious or political views. Violent extremist views can be exhibited along a range of issues, including, politics, religion and gender relations. Alternative Defi nition: Violent Extremism can also be defi ned as “when you do not allow for a diff erent point of view; when you hold your own views as being quite exclusive, when you don’t allow for the possibility of diff erence and when you want to impose this view on others using violence if necessary. Modern challenges: Many countries today are faced with the challenges of not being able to control their citizen’s from being drawn by extremist organisations to travel abroad to take part in the various campaigns that are currently taking place particularly in the middle east. Many of these “foreign fi ghters” are young venerable adults who have been misguided and infl uenced along the wrong path. How can these challenges be addressed? And what should we look out for when trying to understand the early warning signs of some showing tendencies towards one of these dangerous organisations. Early warning signs: • Sudden break with family and long-standing friendships. • Sudden drop-out of school and confl icts with school. • Change in behaviour, relating to food, clothing, language and fi nances. • Changes in attitudes and behaviour towards others; refusal to interact socially, signs of withdrawal and isolation. • Regular viewing of internet sites and participation in social media networks that condone radical or extremist views. • Reference to apocalyptic and conspiracy theories. What causes young people to become involved in extremism and radicalisation? An independent Public opinion survey, conducted in a particular European city by a legitimate company on 6 KFOR CHRONICLECHRONICLE 0101/2017/2017 VIOLENT EXTREMISM 1000 persons of both sexes, ranging in age from 18 to 55 has produced the undermentioned fi ndings/results: To why young people get involved in these organisations. • Unemployment • Low level of education • Globalisation • Targeting of a group that is easier to manipulate Th e above are the possible reasons for persons becoming involved and the below graph shows some other reasons or channels where people are led astray. How do you think people become radicalized in your Community? 225.0%5.0% 220.0%0.0% 118.3%8.3% 119.3%9.3% 118.1%8.1% 115.7%5.7% 115.0%5.0% 114.9%4.9% 110.0%0.0% 66.2%.2% 55.0%.0% 55.7%.7% 11.9%.9% 00.0%.0% Through At school/ At religous By atten- By fi nacial Via the Don‘t Other friends university institutions ding mee- compen- Internet know please tings and sation explain lectures (UNDP) KFORKFOR CHRONICLECHRONICLE 01/201701/2017 7 VIOLENT EXTREMISM Other fi ndings of the survey What is your opinion about extremism? 331%1% 226%6% 116%6% 113%3% 99%% 55%% Signifi cantly Increasing As it was in Decreasing Signifi cantly I don‘t increasing the last decreasing know years (UNDP) WHO NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING THIS PROBLEM (UNDP) Strategic Pathway to Countering this International Problem • Further Research o Research across a multitude of areas requires to be conducted, to ensure a greater understanding of this problem and also to allow authorities to quantify how far the Web of these organisations spreads. • Improve relations with believers o Encourage dialog and public debate with all communities. • Government o Government engagement