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Nato chief seeks Kosovo exit plan | Nato chief seeks Kosovo exit plan |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Nato's new secretary general is in Kosovo on his second visit to a Nato mission since his appointment. | Nato's new secretary general is in Kosovo on his second visit to a Nato mission since his appointment. |
Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet Kosovo's political leaders, as well as senior members of the Nato force here. | Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet Kosovo's political leaders, as well as senior members of the Nato force here. |
The former Danish prime minister's message is likely to be one of reassurance: that the alliance is still committed to the task in hand. | The former Danish prime minister's message is likely to be one of reassurance: that the alliance is still committed to the task in hand. |
But the end is in sight for this Nato peacekeeping mission, which began in 1999, in what was former Yugoslavia. | But the end is in sight for this Nato peacekeeping mission, which began in 1999, in what was former Yugoslavia. |
Mr Rasmussen announced in his recent inaugural speech that, by the end of his five-year mandate, Nato troops stationed in Kosovo would be reduced to a "small reaction force" or withdrawn altogether. | Mr Rasmussen announced in his recent inaugural speech that, by the end of his five-year mandate, Nato troops stationed in Kosovo would be reduced to a "small reaction force" or withdrawn altogether. |
Swift action | Swift action |
Fifty thousand Nato troops entered Kosovo in 1999 after an intensive 78-day air campaign against the then Yugoslav government of Slobodan Milosevic. | Fifty thousand Nato troops entered Kosovo in 1999 after an intensive 78-day air campaign against the then Yugoslav government of Slobodan Milosevic. |
The bombing was intended to stop a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Kosovo at the time. The crisis resulted in hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians fleeing their homes as Serb forces attempted to reimpose Yugoslav rule. | The bombing was intended to stop a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Kosovo at the time. The crisis resulted in hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians fleeing their homes as Serb forces attempted to reimpose Yugoslav rule. |
Ethnic Albanian separatists had launched reprisal attacks against the Serbs. The alliance decided it required swift action. | Ethnic Albanian separatists had launched reprisal attacks against the Serbs. The alliance decided it required swift action. |
Today, just under 14,000 troops remain. But Kosovo is now in a transitional phase - moving away from dependence on international peacekeepers, instead training up its own structures, capable of filling Nato's place. | |
The recently-formed Kosovo Security Force will comprise 2,500 lightly-armed soldiers by next year. They will work alongside the Kosovan Police Force and the European Union rule of law mission - Eulex - to maintain security as Nato draws down. | The recently-formed Kosovo Security Force will comprise 2,500 lightly-armed soldiers by next year. They will work alongside the Kosovan Police Force and the European Union rule of law mission - Eulex - to maintain security as Nato draws down. |
Ethnic tensions | Ethnic tensions |
Out on recent Nato patrol in the northern city of Mitrovica, it was clear the force felt ready to start pulling back. | Out on recent Nato patrol in the northern city of Mitrovica, it was clear the force felt ready to start pulling back. |
The area is ethnically mixed, with many parts dominated by Serbs vehemently opposed to Kosovan independence. | The area is ethnically mixed, with many parts dominated by Serbs vehemently opposed to Kosovan independence. |
It is peaceful for now, but we can have trouble from one moment to the next DaradanMitrovica resident | It is peaceful for now, but we can have trouble from one moment to the next DaradanMitrovica resident |
The city has been a frequent flashpoint over the years and there are still isolated clashes. But the situation has calmed significantly. | The city has been a frequent flashpoint over the years and there are still isolated clashes. But the situation has calmed significantly. |
As we walked past a tower block housing Serbs and Albanians together, Gen Pierre Sandrin struggled to remember a time when Nato troops had had to actively intervene in a dispute over the last few months. | As we walked past a tower block housing Serbs and Albanians together, Gen Pierre Sandrin struggled to remember a time when Nato troops had had to actively intervene in a dispute over the last few months. |
"There was a quarrel about a month ago, when the police had to call for our back-up," he said. | "There was a quarrel about a month ago, when the police had to call for our back-up," he said. |
"But very soon after we arrived, it was defused. Things are pretty peaceful now." | "But very soon after we arrived, it was defused. Things are pretty peaceful now." |
In the Serb enclaves north of the Ibar river, which divides Mitrovica, the goal of a multi-ethnic Kosovo still seems far away. | In the Serb enclaves north of the Ibar river, which divides Mitrovica, the goal of a multi-ethnic Kosovo still seems far away. |
Serbian flags flutter above doorways and the graffiti bears the Serbian national slogan: "Only unity saves the Serbs". | Serbian flags flutter above doorways and the graffiti bears the Serbian national slogan: "Only unity saves the Serbs". |
Jovica, an ethnic Serb who runs a small wooden roadside kiosk selling cigarettes and snacks, told me life remains tense and that he feels in constant danger of being evicted by Albanian returnees. | Jovica, an ethnic Serb who runs a small wooden roadside kiosk selling cigarettes and snacks, told me life remains tense and that he feels in constant danger of being evicted by Albanian returnees. |
I asked him what he thought about the continued Nato presence. | I asked him what he thought about the continued Nato presence. |
"I feel much safer with them here," he said. "If they leave, it will be very hard." | "I feel much safer with them here," he said. "If they leave, it will be very hard." |
Peaceful - for now | Peaceful - for now |
Albanians in general have a more positive view of Nato's planned withdrawal. For them, it would be a recognition of Kosovo's ability to stand on its own two feet. | Albanians in general have a more positive view of Nato's planned withdrawal. For them, it would be a recognition of Kosovo's ability to stand on its own two feet. |
Profile: Danish PM to head Nato | Profile: Danish PM to head Nato |
But across the unofficial dividing line between communities in the Mitrovica neighourhood of Bosnia Mahalla, Daradan, an Albanian market-seller, warns that the situation is still volatile and that conflict can flare up at any time. | But across the unofficial dividing line between communities in the Mitrovica neighourhood of Bosnia Mahalla, Daradan, an Albanian market-seller, warns that the situation is still volatile and that conflict can flare up at any time. |
"This is the most dangerous street in the whole of Kosovo," he said. | "This is the most dangerous street in the whole of Kosovo," he said. |
"It is peaceful for now, but we can have trouble from one moment to the next." | "It is peaceful for now, but we can have trouble from one moment to the next." |
It has taken time for Kosovans to accept the Nato mission here. | It has taken time for Kosovans to accept the Nato mission here. |
Troops have had to rebuild the trust of the local population after they were accused of failing to curb serious nationwide rioting in 2004 that left 19 Serbs dead. | Troops have had to rebuild the trust of the local population after they were accused of failing to curb serious nationwide rioting in 2004 that left 19 Serbs dead. |
But they are now seen as an important part of the growing stability of Kosovo and people feel apprehensive about what life will be like after they have gone. | But they are now seen as an important part of the growing stability of Kosovo and people feel apprehensive about what life will be like after they have gone. |