The Commander of the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR), Major General Enrico Barduani, said that the path to stable security in Kosovo is not military, but political, the newspaper "Koha Ditore" reported, quoted by BTA.
Barduani said this in his last briefing to the NATO Military Committee and the North Atlantic Council before the end of his mandate.
The KFOR commander said that "the situation in Kosovo is stable, but remains at risk in the event of an unexpected escalation of tensions due to a number of unresolved issues".
According to him, despite the challenges on the ground, KFOR has contributed through "maintaining stability and mitigating situations that could lead to incidents or the outbreak of instability".
Barduani stressed NATO and KFOR's continued support for the dialogue to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former province of Kosovo, which was declared in 2008. Belgrade and Pristina are conducting a dialogue to normalize their relations with the mediation of the EU.
"To move forward, Belgrade and Pristina must implement existing agreements. Both sides must show flexibility and make the necessary compromises," he said.
Barduani assessed as an achievement of KFOR, among other things, the temporary deployment of reserve forces and the deepened cooperation with the international community, the Kosovo security services and the Serbian armed forces.
–KFOR continues to fulfill its mandate - based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 - to contribute to a secure environment for all people and communities living in Kosovo, as well as to freedom of movement at all times and without bias,– Barduani's statement also said.