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| Europe |
| Kosovo: Italian general takes control of foreign forces |
| 2008-08-30 |
| (AKI) -- Italian general Giuseppe Emilio Gay on Friday took over the command over the NATO-led international forces in Kosovo (KFOR) from his French colleague Xavier de Marnhac. Gay is the 13th commander of KFOR since Kosovo was placed under United Nations' control in June 1999. The 16,000-strong international force is under NATO command. It has maintained peace in the province for the past nine years since Serbian police and army withdrew. At a ceremony in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, attended by local and international officials, President Fatmir Seidiu thanked the NATO-led force for its contribution to peace and expressed hope this would continue under Gay's command. "KFOR will continue to contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability, which will contribute to economic development and prosperity of a free, democratic society," said General Mark Fitzgerald, US commander of a joint NATO force in Naples. Fitzgerald presided over Friday's official ceremony. |
| Posted by:Fred |