According to Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), Austria is ready to reinforce its troops in Kosovo. The condition for this, however, is that the NATO-led protection force KFOR decides to expand. The Chancellor said this on Thursday during a visit to Vienna by Kosovo’s head of government, Albin Kurti.
Due to the tense security situation in the north of the country and the presence of pro-Russian troops, Kurti wants a larger troop presence. At a joint press conference, Nehammer offered to talk to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic “to build bridges in the conflict between Pristina and Belgrade.” Serbia and Kosovo must find a way for a peaceful and prosperous future and make free decisions accordingly. Austria can help where the two countries cannot find a compromise, Nehammer said.
Over 400 soldiers in action
The government is also ready to increase the troop presence in Kosovo, should the NATO-led defense force KFOR decide to expand it. The force currently has about 3,800 members, including more than 400 Austrian army soldiers. Nehammer said Kosovo has already “achieved an incredible amount”, for example in the fight against organized crime and corruption and through its commitment to the rule of law.
„Excellent relations”
In addition to the security aspect, the country is also economically interesting for Austria, for example in the expansion of renewable energy sources. Kurti thanked Nehammer for his support during the meeting and spoke of excellent relations. He had already invited Nehammer to visit Kosovo with a business delegation.
Another topic of the meeting was EU accession, as Kosovo’s government officially applied for membership in December. Nehammer promised Kurti support in this. However, five other EU member states (Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Cyprus) do not recognize Kosovo as an independent country, nor does Serbia.
As reported, there have recently been repeated conflicts at border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo. For example, a Kosovar soldier recently shot two Serbs outside his duty hours, wounding them.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
