At an official ceremony, Italian Major General Roberto Vergori took command of the KFOR mission in Kosovo, replacing Turkish Major General Özkan Ulutaş. Kosovo President Justina Shiroka Pula, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Speaker of the Assembly Albulena Haxhiu attended the ceremony.
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During the ceremony, Admiral George M. Wikoff, Commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, stressed that KFOR remains focused on ensuring a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo.
He praised the work of KFOR personnel, who have served in the country for more than 27 years and contributed to its security and stability.
According to Wikoff, the mandate is clear: to establish, provide and maintain a safe and secure environment throughout Kosovo so that everyone can live in peace. He recalled that for more than 27 years, men and women from more than 31 countries have proudly served under this noble mandate, with professionalism and courage, dedicating themselves to creating a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo.
The admiral added that KFOR personnel have served far from their homes and families to ensure a better life for people they have often never met. He described KFOR’s mandate as truly noble because those serving in the mission devote themselves to a purpose greater than themselves and serve others.
Wikoff also spoke about the mission’s ongoing development, highlighting NATO’s aim of increasing its capacity to provide humanitarian assistance through a continuous optimization process. He stressed that KFOR’s effectiveness is maximized through the integration and most efficient use of resources.
Kosovo President Justina Shiroka Pula thanked KFOR for its role in maintaining peace and security in the country for more than 27 years, as well as international partners for their support in building and strengthening Kosovo’s security institutions.
She stressed that Kosovo aims to advance along the path toward NATO membership, underscoring the importance of the Partnership for Peace and cooperation with international allies.
According to the president, this strategy is seen as a cornerstone for advancing Kosovo’s path toward NATO. She said that the Partnership for Peace, as a sophisticated framework for NATO membership, makes clear that Kosovo aims for KFOR one day to be not only a peacekeeping force, but also a direct security instrument.
Pula praised KFOR’s contribution over the years and recalled that, with the support of international partners, Kosovo has built and strengthened its security institutions, which today bear direct responsibility for responding to security challenges and protecting citizens.
She also underlined that the Partnership for Peace continues to be of particular importance to overall security and public confidence because of its presence, mandate and cooperation with global institutions.
The president added that Kosovo welcomes the presence of its allies, participation in joint security exercises and engagement in international missions, in line with its strategy and obligations as a future NATO member.
The change of command marks the official transfer of leadership of the KFOR mission from Turkish Major General Özkan Ulutaş to Italian Major General Roberto Vergori, as part of NATO’s continued commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment in Kosovo.
