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Nato chief seeks Kosovo exit plan | Nato chief seeks Kosovo exit plan |
(10 minutes later) | |
A phased withdrawal of Nato troops from Kosovo will only be made if the security situation allows, Nato's new secretary general has said. | A phased withdrawal of Nato troops from Kosovo will only be made if the security situation allows, Nato's new secretary general has said. |
Anders Fogh Rasmussen denied a plan to withdraw peacekeepers was premature and said a decision would be based on military and political advice. | Anders Fogh Rasmussen denied a plan to withdraw peacekeepers was premature and said a decision would be based on military and political advice. |
The former Danish prime minister was speaking to the BBC on his first visit to Kosovo as Nato chief. | The former Danish prime minister was speaking to the BBC on his first visit to Kosovo as Nato chief. |
He is meeting political leaders as well as senior members of the Nato force. | He is meeting political leaders as well as senior members of the Nato force. |
"Reductions will take place in accordance with continued improvements in the security situation," Mr Rasmussen told the BBC. | "Reductions will take place in accordance with continued improvements in the security situation," Mr Rasmussen told the BBC. |
"We will definitely not take decisions that have a negative impact on the security in Kosovo." | "We will definitely not take decisions that have a negative impact on the security in Kosovo." |
Staggered reduction | Staggered reduction |
Mr Rasmussen announced in his recent inaugural speech that, by the end of his five-year mandate, the 14,000 Nato troops currently stationed in Kosovo would be reduced to a "small reaction force" or withdrawn altogether.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five-year mandate, the 14,000 Nato troops currently stationed in Kosovo would be reduced to a "small reaction force" or withdrawn altogether. |
Profile: Danish PM to head Nato | Profile: Danish PM to head Nato |
He has had to perform a delicate balancing act during this trip: reiterating his aim of a phased withdrawal of Nato troops, while not alarming the population of Kosovo that still partly relies on the alliance to keep the peace. | He has had to perform a delicate balancing act during this trip: reiterating his aim of a phased withdrawal of Nato troops, while not alarming the population of Kosovo that still partly relies on the alliance to keep the peace. |
An initial draw-down is expected to begin next year when the force numbers will drop to 10,000. | An initial draw-down is expected to begin next year when the force numbers will drop to 10,000. |
Then, the secretary general said, a staggered reduction will continue if the security situation continues to improve. | Then, the secretary general said, a staggered reduction will continue if the security situation continues to improve. |
The plan is for Kosovan government bodies to take on many roles that Nato now performs: controlling volatile areas, responding to the isolated clashes that still occur and guarding the northern borders with Serbia. | The plan is for Kosovan government bodies to take on many roles that Nato now performs: controlling volatile areas, responding to the isolated clashes that still occur and guarding the northern borders with Serbia. |
But the plan faces stiff opposition from Kosovan Serbs and the government in Belgrade, which refuse to cooperate with structures that imply the recognition of a Kosovan state. | But the plan faces stiff opposition from Kosovan Serbs and the government in Belgrade, which refuse to cooperate with structures that imply the recognition of a Kosovan state. |
Mr Rasmussen said his overriding goal was for the western Balkans as a whole to move closer to Nato and European membership. | |
Kosovo is keen on both but faces several hurdles along the way - not least the fact that five EU states have still not recognised Kosovo as an independent country. | |
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 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 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. |
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. | 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. |
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 inter-ethnic clashes in 2004 that left 19 dead. | Troops have had to rebuild the trust of the local population after they were accused of failing to curb serious inter-ethnic clashes in 2004 that left 19 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. |