Kosovo: report back (January 2008)

(B2) I have just returned from a few days in Kosovo - a report mainly in the northern part - between Mitrovica and the border with Serbia - with the French, Portuguese, Italian and American soldiers.

Interesting to see what is happening on the ground - a calm situation, on the surface, but where communities nevertheless live apart, where any incident can nevertheless trigger the insurmountable.

I was thus able to follow for several days, mainly in the north of Kosovo, near the border with Serbia, several military patrols of KFOR (the NATO-led peacekeeping force) and of the European police in different cities (Mitrovica, Lesak, Vucitrn).

I was also able to meet some international security officials and European diplomats. A way to take the pulse of the situation. In particular, I followed the preparation team for the ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) mission to Pristina and Vucitrn with the police officers of the KFOR-MSU (Multinational Specialized Unit).

A fragmented vision certainly, because we weren't able to see everything, but what they were kind enough to show us. One way, however, to take the pulse of the situation. We were also able to follow, unheard of, the preparation team for the ESDP mission (European Security and Defense Policy) in their HQ on the heights of Pristina.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Lire:

Kosovo 1: North Kosovo. One eye towards Belgrade, the other towards Pristina

Kosovo 2: On the "Austerlitz" bridge, the 3rd RIMA watches

Kosovo 3: Carabinieri and gendarmes of the MsU, on the ground

Kosovo 4: General Jumelet (Kfor): we remain optimistic even if everything goes wrong quickly

Kosovo 5: The mission is only waiting for the green light from the Council to deploy