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KFOR
Chronicle 2003
No
4
| Deputy
COMKFOR Editorial |
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KFOR still has to remain with all its senses on the alert
to respond crises 24 hours a day. Indeed Current events
show us that the rising tensions in the province could
lead to unexpected and violent acts. The recent assassination
of witnesses in an anti-criminality trial or the recent
LOZISTE terrorist attack are additional proves, if needed,
of how deep are criminal roots in KOSOVO. We must all
remain vigilant.
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| United
Nations Security Council
Resolution 1244 |
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United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, passed
on 10 June 1999, was the effective end to 79 days of NATO
air strikes, code named Operation Allied Force, against
FRY military targets. The resolution set out the guiding
principles for a political solution to the Kosovo crisis.
These principles included the withdrawal of FRY military,
police and paramilitary forces; the end of violence; the
return of refugees and displaced persons; the deployment
of a civil and security presence; and, the establishment
of an interim government of Kosovo under United Nations
direction.
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| "This
Engagement Is Particularly For Us" |
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PEC/PEJA, Kosovo - "Valor - Lealtad
- Constancia -Prudencia (Value - Comradeship - Constance
- Prudence) is the slogan which greets visitors of Hunter's
House in the Rugova-Valley near Pec’s Serbian monastery.
In this place, 48 Officers and NCO's from Argentina founded
their field camp. In 2000 they were invited by the Italian
Army to participate in KFOR and to support the MNB(SW)
Area of Responsibility. What moved the engineers of such
a distant country to cross the sea and to come to Kosovo?
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| They
have given their life for the peace |
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April 7, 1994, ten Belgian commandos were murdered in
Kigali (Rwanda). In 1998, the Belgian Government decided
to choose this date as “Memory National Day in Honor
of the Belgian Soldiers Fallen for Peace Since 1945."
In total there have been 226 who lost their life in Korea,
Africa, or in the Balkans.
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| Easter |
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During Holy Week and Easter there were several services
held in KFOR HQ MAIN. These photos show two of these services.
On Good Friday, a Stations of the Cross service was held
including a walk through all Stations. On Holy Saturday,
an Easter Service was held in front of KFOR Main building.
In this service, a baptism of a British soldier was included.
To conduct baptism during Easter night is common in all
Christian churches. Both services were beautiful and solemn
and attended with about 300 participants..
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| French/American
Cooperation brings hope |
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PRILUZJE, Kosovo - This Roma village
was recently visited by a contingent of American, Belgian,
Moroccan, and French soldiers. The convoy of KFOR vehicles
delivered food, clothing, and school supplies to the 230
people living in this impoverished village.
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| Inter
Operability Exercise |
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A multinational sling-load exercise involving six helicopters
and 90 soldiers from more than a dozen countries was conducted
at the Camp Bondsteel Support Supply Activity Pad on March
28.
The interoperability exercise, which was covered by approximately
34 media representatives from throughout Kosovo, demonstrated
sling-load operations. It is a tactic by which a helicopter
lifts an object off the ground with a cable.
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| Legionnaires
in Eagle Territory |
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In the beginning of February 2003, the 2nd Foreign Engineer
Regiment (2 REG), under the orders of its Commander, Col.
Autran, settled into the camp Marshal de Lattre de Tassigny
at Novo Selo, a small village south of Mitrovica. The
regiment, which has in its ranks Sappers and Legionnaires,
became BATGEN (French for Engineer Battalion) within KFOR.
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| Searching
weapons in a miner complex |
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KFOR soldiers continue carrying out operations that
have a strong impact on security in Kosovo. On March 21,
2003 forces from four nations operated a two day search
in TF FALCO Area Of Responsibility, along the border with
Albania. Targets were old coal mines in an old ore district
close to slopes of the Albanian Alps. NORBAT from MNB(C)
provided a special EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team
skilled to clear narrow places.
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| MSU
maintains strong presence |
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PARICI, Kosovo - The MSU convoy climbed
the narrow dirt road leading to the small village of Parici
in the municipality of Paralovo. This village is inhabited
by about 35 Serbian families that rely mainly on subsistence
farming for their livelihood. The multinational team of
French Gendarme, Italian Carabinieri, and Estonian soldiers
was greeted by smiling faces full of anti cipation. Young
and old alike gathered around the trucks to greet the
soldiers. This Serbian village had been identified by
the MSU CIMIC as a population in dire need of clothing,
food, and medical attention. The MSU soldiers wasted no
time exiting the vehicles and unloaded the donations in
a very organized manner.
More |
| Successful
Search Operation In Mitrovica |
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On Saturday, April 5th, based on accurate
information, the French Battalion (BATFRA) organized a
search operation in three houses located in Mitrovica.
The aim of this operation was to search for illegal weapons,
ammunition, and documents, which can implicate a suspect
in racket, intimidation actions, and other offenses.
More |
| Historical
and political development of Prizren city |
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The settling of the Prizrenska Bistrica valley can be
traced back to ancient times.
The rich water resources, favorable climate conditions,
fertile soil, and convenient location for trading benefited
the Illyric tribes. Numerous items found in graves reveal
the history of these people from which the Albanians claim
to be the descendants.
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| Sanitary
evacuation |
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This is a day like others for the EVASAN (Sanitary Evacuation)
team from DETALAT (French Army Light Aviation Detachment)
in Plana.
This team is composed of one PUMA SA 330 helicopter crew,
one complete medical team, and one signals specialist.
They must be able to take off in less than 45 minutes
to conduct sanitary evacuations.
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| Night
life in Pristina with Swedish soldiers on patrol |
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PRISTINA, Kosovo - On any given night,
Swedish soldiers are visibly safeguarding the streets
of Pristina. The soldiers make three or four patrols by
day, but their main efforts are conducted during the hours
of darkness. The Swedish assumed this responsibility from
the British on Jan. 11, 2003 and have diligently worked
to understand the population.
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| Task
Force Dragas |
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PRIZREN, Kosovo - When leaving Prizren
in a southwesterly direction along Route Duck, a large
sign with the Turkish national flag marks the location
of Task Force Dragas field camp - the Sultan Murat Camp.
Behind the guards, are three multiple dwelling units with
a memorial of the "Father of all Turks", Gen.
Kemal Atatürk.
More |
| Transfer
of responsibilities at factory of steel welded pipes |
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FERIZAJ, Kosovo -- Over on the east
side of Ferizaj in a industrial and commercial part of
the city, a typically gaunt looking building, has been
the compound of the Greek component of the Multi-National
Brigade (East).
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| New
Railway Line At Gracanica |
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Finally, the work was done and at last it was time to
reopen the railway link between the Serb dominated city
of Gracanica and Kosovo Polje. A railway link that will
give the Kosovo Serbs a greater freedom of movement, since
the train station in Kosovo Polje is a central point for
the railways in Serbia.
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| MNB(SW)
offers a seminar to KPC leaders |
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ZRZE, Kosovo - “We do not
want to teach the inhabitants of Kosovo, but to share
our experience with them," explained Col. Martin
Konertz of MNB(SW) in Prizren. He explained the aim of
the seminar for leaders of the Kosovo Protection Corps
(KPC). Konertz organized this course together with JICTAT
in the Motel Kosova in Zrze and secured the support of
the Brigade staff for lecturing. About 60 higher-level
KPC members from Pristina and the Zones 1, 2, and 3 participated
in the course.
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| Ukrainian
Patrol |
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BREZOVICA, Kosovo - Two companies of
Ukrainian soldiers reside in this mainly Serbian region
of MNB(E). There are about 200 troops here that patrol
the villages, man observation posts, and maintain an overall
secure environment. For more than 30 percent of these
soldiers, it is there second tour in Kosovo, so they know
this mission very well. The unit works closely not only
with the American soldiers in the sector, but with the
KPS and UNMIK Police as well.
More |
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