Arben Gashi: After 27 years, Kosovo moves from hosting peacekeepers to contributing to peace

Arben Gashi, a lawmaker from the Democratic League of Kosovo, thanked NATO and the Kosovo Police for their commitment following the end of the security mission at the Ibër Bridge.

According to Gashi, over the course of 27 years, even a minimum estimate shows that soldiers carried out around 473,000 individual four-hour deployments at the bridge. He also stressed that Kosovo is ready to participate in international peacekeeping missions.

Gashi described the development as Kosovo’s transition “from a country that hosted peacekeepers to a country that contributes to peace.”

Full post:

27 years at the Ibër Bridge.

Even according to a minimum estimate, if 4 soldiers served on each side and shifts changed every 4 hours, around 473,000 individual 4-hour deployments were carried out over the course of 27 years.

This is only a minimum estimate, as it does not include periods of tension and crises, when the military presence and commitment near the bridge were significantly higher.

With the conclusion of this mission, I express my deep gratitude to NATO and its soldiers, as well as to the Kosovo Police, for the responsibility and readiness they have demonstrated.

At the same time, Kosovo is ready to engage in international peacekeeping missions.

From a country that hosted peacekeepers to a country that contributes to peace.