Prishtina, November 19, 2019 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, attended today the KFOR change of command ceremony.
President Thaçi said that although it is a ceremony that at first glance looks the same, in fact it brings something new each year.
“The first innovation it brings is another step in deepening cooperation between KFOR, NATO in general, and the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. The second innovation is the expansion of cooperation between KFOR and the institutions of Kosovo, evidenced by reports of continued achievements, especially in cooperation with the Kosovo Security Force. And the third innovation is the big step towards strengthening peace and security in Kosovo and throughout our region”, President Thaçi has said.
The Head of State has thanked the so far KFOR Commander in Kosovo, Major General D’Addario, for the work done.
“Your engagement has brought more peace, more security and this has contributed to a better life for all citizens of Kosovo”, said President Thaçi, while also welcoming the new Commander, Major General Michele Risi.
President Thaçi has said that even after 20 years of presence in Kosovo, KFOR continues to be one of the organizations that enjoys the highest confidence of our citizens.
“This great confidence is by no means accidental. But it has been created through the professional, impartial and successful work that KFOR soldiers have done over these years. Successes not only in protecting Kosovo’s external borders, Kosovo’s airspace, but especially in its successes in supporting Kosovo internally. These successes are assistances which are provided every day, to every community, throughout Kosovo, to schools, hospitals, NGOs and the media in our country. Trust, cooperation, support, tolerance, cohabitation, multi-ethnicity, peace are values on which friendship between KFOR and every citizen of Kosovo has been built”, stated President Thaçi.
He added that every KFOR Commander has been committed to building a better communication with citizens, because only through good communication the messages of peace, reconciliation and cooperation are strongly conveyed, showing that we all have a responsibility to strengthen peace and to build a better life in our entire region.
“Our joint successes actually make KFOR less and less necessary. The continuous reduction of the KFOR troops in Kosovo is the best indicator of the successes the KFOR soldiers and leaders have achieved. These successes have also been achieved through the close cooperation with local security mechanisms”, he said.
President Thaçi said that from the good cooperation the Kosovo Security Force has also been created, as a professional and multiethnic force, which is at the service of every citizen of Kosovo.
He has added that the development of the KSF means that one day, in the near future, our aspiration will be realized not only for NATO to be in Kosovo but also for Kosovo to be NATO, and to contribute to peace worldwide, with our work and with our example.