Eurasia Press & News
The Czech Republic has confirmed speculation that it will reduce the number of troops it has serving in Kosovo under NATO, while speculation over a possible reduction of German troops in the country continues.
Speaking on Czech television, the Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova said that her country will reduce the number of troops it has in Kosovo because of the greater need for soldiers in Afghanistan, local media report.
In addition, the German government may pull out a number of soldiers from Kosovo “as the security situation in Kosovo is stable, ” reports Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, referring to sources from Defense Ministry.
Nevertheless German politicians warn that a continued NATO presence in the country is necessary. “Kosovo is still far from the day when a full pull out of KFOR is to happen”, said a foreign policy analyst.
The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has over over 15 000 troops deployed in the country tasked with maintaining a safe and secure environment.
