Govt Confirms Plans to Bolster Slovenian Contingent in Kosovo
Ljubljana, 23 November
The government gave the go-ahead on Thursday the deployment of the 10th motorised battalion to Kosovo, where it will be operating from March to September next year as part of the NATO-led KFOR peace-keeping mission.
The cabinet pointed out that "the security and political situation in Kosovo is still unstable and therefore continues to require the presence of the international community". According to data published on the website of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Slovenia currently has a 214-strong force in Kosovo. The deployment of the 10th motorised battalion will increase the number to more than 700, which will make for the largest Slovenian contingent abroad so far. According to Defence Minister Karl Erjavec, the deployment of the battalion in Kosovo will also be the first case of Slovenia taking over its own area of control in a NATO mission for a period of six months. During the deployment of the unit, as much as 11% of the entire Slovenian army will be engaged in missions abroad.