1 Aug 2004

Improving Kosovo border security through training News 01/08/2004 - KFOR KFOR-Border Control Training “Balkan Star 04” Background NATO's role in Kosovo Links KFOR website Nearly 700 police, military and civilian personnel from Kosovo, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1, as well as the UN, EU and NATO took part in a border control training organised by NATO-led peacekeepers in Kosovo. The training was held at the NATO headquarters in Pristina at the end of July and evaluated on 1 August. No real troop movements occurred, the entire exercise was conducted through computer simulations, covering 15 different possible border incidents, such as attempted human trafficking, smuggling, or the reinforcement of borders with troops. The scenarios demanded close cooperation between border guards, police, military, civilian authorities and the international community in Kosovo and the neighbouring countries. The aim was to rehearse and test existing procedures, lines of communication and command in order to ensure efficient real-life responses. “We are very delighted about the results of this training, because the counterparts of the Albanian police in Kukes and the border units of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia as well as the EU-mission PROXIMA in Skopje participated in this training and exchange of information”, said the organiser, Lieutenant-Colonel Tor Martin Larsen of the NATO-led international peacekeeping force KFOR. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.