Pocket badge of the KFOR in both latin and cyrillic letters

The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo, a province of Serbia which has been under UN administration since 1999. KFOR has multiple meanings, including Kosovo Force KFOR (AM), a radio station in Lincoln, Nebraska KFOR-TV, a television station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Category: ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 447 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1372 × 1838 pixel, file size: 453 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 447 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1372 × 1838 pixel, file size: 453 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz redirects here. ... The Cyrillic alphabet (pronounced also called azbuka, from the old name of the first two letters) is actually a family of alphabets, subsets of which are used by certain Slavic languages — Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Rusyn, Serbian, and Ukrainian—as well as many other languages of the former Soviet Union... NATO Peacekeeping Operations: International Security Assistance Force ISAF Operation Deliberate Force Operation Allied Force IFOR KFOR SFOR Peacekeeping Categories: | ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... This article is about the year. ...

KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. At the time of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was facing a grave humanitarian crisis, with military and paramilitary forces from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in daily engagement. Ethnic tensions were at their highest and the death toll had reached a historic high. Nearly one million people had fled Kosovo as refugees.^[1] is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 defined the legal status of Kosovo as a UN protectorate, under its administration, while being legally an autonomous constituency of Serbia and Montenegro. ...

As of 2007, KFOR consisted of approximately 16,000 troops. KFOR’s presence remains crucial to guarantee security and stability in Kosovo as the diplomatic process led by the United Nations to define its future status moves forward.

Objectives

Map of the KFOR-Sectors, 2002.

NATO’s initial mandate was: ^[2] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 589 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2038 × 2075 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 589 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2038 × 2075 pixel, file size: 1. ...

• to deter renewed hostility and threats against Kosovo by Yugoslav and Serb forces;
• to establish and maintain a secure environment in Kosovo, including public safety and civil order;
• to demilitarise the Kosovo Liberation Army;
• to support the international humanitarian effort;
• to coordinate with and support the international civil presence.

Today, KFOR focuses on building a secure environment in which all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origins, can live in peace and, with international aid, democracy and civil society are gradually gaining strength. KFOR tasks have included:

• assistance with the return or relocation of displaced persons and refugees;
• reconstruction and demining;
• medical assistance;
• security and public order;
• security of ethnic minorities;
• protection of patrimonial sites;
• border security;
• interdiction of cross-border weapons smuggling;
• implementation of a Kosovo-wide weapons, ammunition and explosives amnesty programme;
• weapons destruction;
• support for the establishment of civilian institutions, law and order, the judicial and penal system, the electoral process and other aspects of the political, economic and social life of the province.

The Contact Group countries have said publicly that KFOR will remain in Kosovo to provide the security necessary to support the provisions of a final settlement of Kosovo's status.^[3] The Contact Group is the name for an informal grouping of influential countries that have a significant interest in policy developments in the Balkans. ...

Structure

KFOR Tasks Forces, 2006

Ukrainian soldier on foot patrolling in Serbian village near Brezovica

German Bundeswehr KFOR soldiers and a Marder armoured personnel carrier in southern Kosovo in 1999

German Bundeswehr KFOR soldiers patrol southern Kosovo in 1999

KFOR contingents were originally grouped into 4 regionally-based multinational brigades. The brigades were responsible for a specific area of operations, but under a single chain of command under the authority of Commander KFOR. In August 2005, the North Atlantic Council decided to restructure KFOR, replacing the four existing multinational brigades with five task forces, to allow for greater flexibility with, for instance, the removal of restrictions on the cross-boundary movement of units based in different sectors of Kosovo.^[4]
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 515 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (665 × 774 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 515 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (665 × 774 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/png) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Taken from NATO site: [1] Conditions Governing the use of Video & Photographic Material from the KFOR Multimedia multimedia: No material is to be used for advertising purposes whatsoever. ... Taken from NATO site: [1] Conditions Governing the use of Video & Photographic Material from the KFOR Multimedia multimedia: No material is to be used for advertising purposes whatsoever. ... The Ukrainian Ground Forces (Ukrainian: ) were formed from the Soviet Army formations, units, and establishments, including three military district headquarters (the Kiev, Carpathian, and Odessa), that were on Ukrainian soil when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990-2. ... 300px|center|Brezovica Area: 91,2 km² Population  - males  - females 9. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 546 pixelsFull resolution (2296 × 1568 pixel, file size: 513 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photo of German KFOR armoured vehicle taken by Nick Macdonald (nickmacdonald. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 546 pixelsFull resolution (2296 × 1568 pixel, file size: 513 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photo of German KFOR armoured vehicle taken by Nick Macdonald (nickmacdonald. ... The Bundeswehr (German for Federal Defence Force;  ) is the name of the unified armed forces of Germany. ... Marder is a German infantry fighting vehicle operated by German Army from the 1960s through the present day. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 539 pixelsFull resolution (2280 × 1536 pixel, file size: 730 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)German KFOR troops patrol southern Kosovo in the Summer of 1999. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 539 pixelsFull resolution (2280 × 1536 pixel, file size: 730 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)German KFOR troops patrol southern Kosovo in the Summer of 1999. ... The Bundeswehr (German for Federal Defence Force;  ) is the name of the unified armed forces of Germany. ...

• Multinational Task Force North (MNTF-N):

MNTF-N is deployed in the northern region of Kosovo, headquartered in Nove Selo and is commanded by Brigadier General Eric Arnaud (French Army).
Contributing nations: Belgium, Denmark, France (Lead nation), Greece, Estonia, Luxemburg, Morocco.

• Multinational Task Force East (MNTF-E):

MNTF-E is deployed in the eastern region of Kosovo, headquartered in Urosevac and is commanded by Brigadier General John E. Davoren (U.S. Army) since November, 2007.
Contributing nations: Armenia, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, United States (Lead nation). http://www.tffalcon.hqusareur.army.mil/

• Multinational Task Force South (MNTF-S):

MNTF-S is deployed in the southern region of Kosovo, headquartered in Prizren. This Task Force has been established on May 15, 2006 and is commanded by Brigadier General Uğur Tarçin (Turkish Army) since May 29, 2007.
Contributing nations: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey (Lead nation).

• Multinational Task Force West (MNTF-W):

MNTF-W is deployed in the western region of Kosovo, headquartered in Peje/Pec and is commanded by Brigadier General Antonio Venci (Italian Army).
Contributing nations: Italy (lead nation), Spain, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania.

• Multinational Task Force Center (MNTF-C):

MNTF-C is deployed in the central region of Kosovo, headquartered in Lipljan and is commanded by Brigadier General Hegarty (Irish Army).
Contributing nations: Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland (Lead nation), Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden.

Contributing nations

At its height, KFOR troops numbered 50,000 and came from 39 different NATO / Non-NATO nations. The official KFOR website indicated that in April 2007 a total 16,000 soldiers from 34 countries participated in KFOR.^[5]

The nations contributing the most personnel to KFOR at the time included:

•  United States (7,000 - now 3,000)
•  Germany (6,000 - now 3,000)
•  Italy (5,000 - now 3,000)
•  United Kingdom (19,000 troops - now ~1,500)
•  France (7,000 - now 1,500)
•  Russia (3,000? - now 0)
•  Netherlands (2,000)
•  Ukraine (1,300)
•  Spain (1,200)

Other contributing NATO Nations included: Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ukraine. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ...

Other contributing non-NATO Nations have included: Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Estonia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hungary. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iceland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Latvia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Luxembourg. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Portugal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovakia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ...

Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Austria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Azerbaijan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mongolia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates. ...

KFOR Commanders

1. Mike Jackson (  United Kingdom, June 12, 1999 - October 8, 1999),
2. Klaus Reinhardt (  Germany, October 8, 1999 - April 18, 2000),
3. Juan Ortuño Such (  Spain, April 18, 2000 - October 16, 2000),
4. Carlo Cabigiosu (  Italy, October 16, 2000 - April 6, 2001),
5. Thorstein Skiaker (  Norway, April 6, 2001 - October 3, 2001),
6. Marcel Valentin (  France, October 3, 2001 - October 4, 2002),
7. Fabio Mini (  Italy, October 4, 2002 - October 3, 2003),
8. Holger Kammerhoff (  Germany, October 3, 2003 - September 1, 2004),
9. Yves de Kermabon (  France, September 1, 2004 - September 1, 2005),
10. Giuseppe Valotto (  Italy, September 1, 2005 - September 1, 2006),
11. Roland Kather (  Germany, September 1, 2006 - August 31, 2007),
12. Xavier de Marnhac (  France, August 31, 2007 - Present).

General Sir Michael Mike Jackson, GCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen (born 21 March 1944) is a British army officer, currently Chief of the General Staff. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Lieutenant General Xavier Bout de Marnhac (born 7 July 1951 in Trier, Germany) is a French military commander and head of the Kosovo Force (KFOR). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Magazines

The KFOR Chronicle is published monthly, and is cleared for public dissemination. It is also published on the Internet for an international audience at http://www.nato.int/kfor/chronicle/

The Guardian East is another monthly publication created by the US led Multi-National Task Force - East. http://www.tffalcon.hqusareur.army.mil/

See also

• Kosovo status process
• United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR)
• IFOR
• SFOR
• European Union Force (EUFOR)
• Kosovo Protection Corps
• Kosovo Police Service
• NATO
• Peacekeeping

Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian (and previously, the Yugoslav) government and Kosovos largely ethnic-Albanian population. ... Pocket badge of the UNPROFOR. The United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), was the first UN peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. ... The acronym IFOR may also refer to the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. ... Members of the Dutch, French, German and U.S. military watch as an Italian honour guard hoists the new Stabilisation Force flag during the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) activation ceremony in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the 20 of December 1996 Pocket badge of the SFOR The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) was... EUFOR former Commander General David Leakey. ... Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC or TMK in Albanian) Logo The Kosovo Protection Corps is a civilian emergency services organization in Kosovo. ... The Kosovo Police Service (KPS) was created in 1999, in the aftermath of the NATO bombing campaign and subsequent withdrawal of the FRY and Serbian forces from Kosovo. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ...

References and external links

• KFOR official site (NATO)
• K-For: The task ahead (from BBC News, June 13, 1999)
• First deaths in K-For operation (from BBC News, June 14, 1999)
• Memorial honors soldiers' sacrifices June 2002: 68 soldiers have died since KFOR entered Kosovo.
• Nato force 'feeds Kosovo sex trade' (from The Guardian, May 7, 2004)
• Radio KFOR