KFOR : Inside KFOR: Archive January 2002

Inside KFOR

Archive March 2003

Inside KFOR: Closing Ceremony - Cervantes Program

Istok On March 2, 2003 - a multi-ethnic ceremony and celebration in Istok marked the closing of the new Cervantes course developed January-February this year.

The goal of Cervantes program is to share aspects of Spanish culture with the people of Kosovo and to promote a positive image of Spain as well as the Spanish Army. The program also promotes tolerance and coexistence among children and adults of different ethnic groups inside the AOR. On this occasion, this course met its goal with the Serbian school of Svo Grlo, and the Albanian school of Syrigan.

Inside KFOR: Transfer of Authority Task Force Falco

Colonel Giovanni SAVARESE, Commander of the 8th Regiment Bersaglieri, assumed command of Task Force Falco Feb. 18, during a ceremony held in Dacovica for the Transfer of Authority between the 152nd Infantry Regiment "Sassari" and the 8th Regiment Bersaglieri from Caserta.

Local military and civilian authorities, among them the Mayor of Dacovica, attended the ceremony.

Inside KFOR: Chief of mission visits troops

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – On Jan. 28, the chief of mission from the U.S. Office in Pristina (USOP) visited soldiers from the 2nd of the 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, who are training near Observation Post Thunder in support of Rapid Guardian.

Harnish said he was impressed with the training and professionalism of the
173rd soldiers, who are stationed in Vicenza, Italy.

Inside KFOR: Lagunari bolster Rapid Guardian with Elite Troops

BILINCI, Kosovo - The Lagunari’s patch told their entire story, if you knew how to read it. The winged lion of San Marco holds a sword in one paw, a book in the other. According to legend, when the sword is lowered and the book is opened, the Lagunari’s home in Venice is at peace, said Sergente Jacopo Bettio. When the book is closed and the sword is raised, the city is at war.

But the Lagunari, an elite unit of the Italian Army, is always ready for war.

“The first thing you need to know is we are Italian Army. Second, we are a NATO ally, and third, we are Lagunari,” explained Caporale Maggioro Diego Chavez.

Inside KFOR: MSU Helps Local Town

SILOVO, Kosovo – “This is a drop in the ocean. The people here need a lot more and that is why we went through with this,” said Chief Warrant Officer Carlo Panattoni, detachment commander of the Italian Carabinieri, a Multinational Specialized Unit serving in Multi-National Brigade (East).

Inside KFOR: Finals games of multi-ethnic volleyball

The multi-ethnic volleyball tournament organised by MNB (C) had its final games March 8-9 in the University Sports Hall in Pristina. The weekend was the culmination of months of coaching, training and competition designed to bring youngsters of all communities together and, through sports, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among Kosovo youths.

Inside the Brigades: FINBAT band rocked the Women’s Day away

The night was dark, but lamps were bright when B-Coy’s band of FINBAT, Cold Spoon, played before a live studio audience in RTV21’s Women’s Day special show March 8.

Inside KFOR: COMKFOR visited university of Pristina

COMKFOR Lieutenant General Fabio Mini visited the University of Pristina for a briefing and cross-discussion with students and faculty March 14. COMKFOR was invited by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Rexhep Osmani.

Spanish Platoon kept watch over the“BOOTLEG AREA.”

From Feb 18 to March 15, the “ANSO” Coy, belonging to GT PIRINEOS of Task Force TIZONA, kept watch over the BOOTLEG AREA in order to avoid illegal activities, such as smuggling and the unlawful trafficking of people.

KFOR Oversees Destruction of Weapons

JANJEVO, Kosovo – A destruction of confiscated weapons took place at the “METALICA” Factory on Mar. 21, 2003. During this event the Greek Battalion destroyed 565 confiscated weapons and afterwards the workers of the factory produced manholes and stove parts from this material.

Task Force Tizona
Transfer of Authority Ceremony

Col Barbero Checa, chief of the new Agrupación IX “CORDOBA,” assumed command of Task Force Tizona in a transfer of authority ceremony held March 23 at the Spanish military installation “Base ESPAÑA.”