Ulutash Denies KFOR Delay in Banjska: Response Was Professional and at the Necessary Pace

Turkish Major General Ozkan Ulutash, commander of KFOR, has said that the mission is ready to deal with any scenario, including an incident similar to the September 2023 attack in Banjska, Zvečan.

In a written interview with KP, he said he did not want to speculate, stressing that military personnel do not take any situation for granted and continuously prepare for every possibility. According to him, KFOR regularly organizes activities aimed at enhancing personnel capabilities and maintaining the highest operational standards.

Ulutash assessed that the security situation has steadily improved in recent years and that KFOR’s daily engagement has made an important contribution in this regard. He added that this progress must now be built upon and the hard-won results protected, which is why KFOR will maintain an effective operational presence on the ground.

NATO deployed additional troops to Kosovo following the attack in Banjska. However, the KFOR commander did not provide details on how the reinforced presence would be handled in the future, but explained that decisions would be made after carefully reviewing several security indicators.

He said he could not disclose operational information, as safeguarding it is crucial to KFOR’s effectiveness and deterrent capability. Ulutash assured that the mission would continue to monitor every significant security development and ensure that it is properly positioned and capable of fulfilling its mission.

According to him, adjustments to KFOR’s presence are based on a careful assessment of several security indicators. As he explained, this process will be implemented step by step and according to circumstances on the ground, while it can be reversed if security developments so require.

Claims have been raised in Kosovo that KFOR’s response during the attack in Banjska was too slow and that the force should have had prior intelligence about the armed group that carried out the aggression in Kosovo.

Responding to these criticisms, Ulutash said NATO troops acted professionally and at the speed required by the situation. According to him, the intervention was conducted in full compliance with the long-standing UN mandate, as well as the procedures and protocols in force. He added that, following the events in question, KFOR had further adjusted its presence on the ground.