NATO's Stoltenberg visits Kosovo

NATO's Stoltenberg visits Kosovo

The Alliance's secretary general reinforces the message of the benefits of military collaboration.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reviews an honour guard during his visit to Pristina. [KFOR]

NATO is assuring Kosovo it is welcome to participate in Euro-Atlantic co-operation and that the Alliance will continue to help build the Kosovo Security Force's capabilities within its current mandate.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Pristina last month, reinforcing the message of co-operation.

"[O]ur decision to be here, to stay here is not based on calendars but on conditions, and as long as we deem it necessary to contribute to the security and stability, then we stay," Stoltenberg said.

But Stoltenberg clarified that is not up to NATO to determine the direction in which Kosovo's security forces will develop.

"What we are doing is that we are doing capacity building for the Kosovo Security Forces within its present mandate," he added.

Stoltenberg also said the Alliance's mission should be able to leave Kosovo at some stage as the ultimate expression that "we have succeeded in together with you normalising the situation."

The Kosovo parliament will vote on a law that transforms the current Kosovo Security Force into a full-fledged army.

"It is up to you to decide [how], but I expect you to do it in a way which do not undermine the progress we have made together to create stability, reconciliation and peace," Stoltenberg said.

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said NATO membership is a strategic orientation for Kosovo as is its continued commitment to address the threats of extremism and radicalism in the country.

"[T]he...