KFOR mission, failure or progress?

2023-05-12 08:13:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Illustrative photo

The German parliament debated the extension of the Bundeswehr's commitment to Kosovo. After the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the German government sees the stabilization of peace in the Western Balkans of great geostrategic interest.

For 24 years already, KFOR has been in Kosovo, and for 24 years the extension of the mandate of the German Army (Bundeswehr) in Kosovo must be approved by the German Parliament (Bundestag), after two 40-minute debates and a roll call vote . On Thursday, 11.05.2023, the first debate took place on the motion presented by the German government for the extension of the mandate of stationing German soldiers in Kosovo by one more year.

Politicians of the center-left tripartite coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) as well as those of the largest opposition parliamentary group (CDU/CSU) praised KFOR's contribution in general to maintaining stability in Kosovo. But they also pointed out the main points that make the mandate necessary: ??Especially after the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the German government sees the stabilization of a stable peace in the Western Balkans of great geostrategic interest, said the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Defense, Thomas Hitschler, (SPD). "The progress achieved in two decades should not be lost", he told the deputies.

The maximum number of German soldiers that can be engaged within KFOR during the next 12 months remains unchanged, 400. Currently, nearly 70 members of the Bundeswehr are stationed in Kosovo. But the mandate allows the Minister of the Interior to increase this number in case of need. Hitschler pointed out that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo still remains open, which causes tensions in the north from time to time.

Peter Beyer: We no longer tolerate arguments against the association

Peter Beyer, from the opposition CDU party, said normalization of relations was key. He welcomed the achievement of the Ohrid Agreement at the end of March, but criticized the lack of will for implementation. "We can neither listen to the excuses nor tolerate them", he said considering the delay in the creation of the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian majority by the current government of Kosovo. Beyer warned: "The stabilization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is closely related to stability in the entire Western Balkans."

Boris Mijatovic, speaker of the parliamentary group, The Greens, who himself had just returned from a visit to the region, recalled the wounds of war in the Balkans. He mentioned the many missing persons and many open issues between the two countries, which make normalization difficult. The politician from the foreign minister's party, Baerbock, focused on the successes: the achievement of the Ohrid Agreement, although it has not yet been signed, Kosovo's candidacy for EU membership at the end of last year, as well as the progress achieved at the end of March with the transition to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of Kosovo's request for membership. "So, there are successes, but the process is not over, so we need the presence of KFOR in the future as well", argued Mijatovic: "It is our commitment to peace in the region".

The Left and the Alternative for Germany call KFOR's mission a failure

The politicians of the two extreme parties, the Left and the Alternative for Germany, chose, as in previous years, a narrative diametrically opposed to that of the four center parties. Markus Frohnmeier, from the AfD, said that the truth is that in fact, in 2004 there was an "ethnic cleansing" of the Serbian minority, in the presence of KFOR." The right-wing politician continued with accusations against the Kosovo government: Nepotism, like the Habeck and Graichen case, is normal in Kosovo". He also criticized the German government, which pays development aid, and, on behalf of the AfD, rejected a mandate extension. He asked for an end to this "All inclusive" service for Kosovo, which will last another 25 years.

Even Zhaklin Nastic, who spoke on behalf of the E Majta party, rejected the extension of the mandate. She emphasized the situation of the Serb and Roma minority in Kosovo. According to her, every year there are three attacks against them. Nastic, whose party has always called NATO's intervention against Milosevic a mistake, said that according to her, the bombings have caused 3,500 victims, but no one has been held accountable for them. Likewise, according to her, no one has been held responsible for the uranium ammunition used during the bombings, as well as the bombing of the ammunition factory in Pancevo, which, according to her, caused the release of a large amount of mercury.

Germany gives over six million euros a year to Kosovo

After a 40-minute debate, the motion was passed to the relevant committees, the external and the defense. German troops have been involved in the KFOR mission since June 12, 1999, with the entry into force of UN resolution 1244. For the extension of the mandate there is a broad consensus in the German parliament, so the motion is expected to be approved.

Germany's expenses for the engagement of its soldiers in KFOR are expected to reach around 6.1 million euros for the next twelve months. But Germany's contribution to Kosovo is greater than that. Since 1999, it has spent around 880 million euros for the development of Kosovo. Cooperation is currently focused on the areas of energy, sanitation, circular economy, education and sustainable growth. A major development cooperation project is the transformation of the Prizren camp into an innovation and technology park./ Voa