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New SAF Contingent takes over tasks in Kosovo
On Monday, 1 March, a ceremony took place at the military base Villagio Italia near Pec in Kosovo marking the transfer of duties between the 20th and the 21st contingents of the SAF which has participated in the Joint Enterprise Operation in Kosovo for ten years.
In his address, Commander of the 20th Contingent Colonel Klemen Medja thanked to SAF members for well conducted tasks and wished to a new contingent successful performance of their duties. He encouraged SAF members to use all challenges for their own contribution to even higher quality of work.
In his address, Commander of the Multinational Battle Group-West Colonel Vincenzo Grasso expressed his gratitude for excellent international cooperation with SAF members and said he was honoured and proud to be able to cooperate with the Slovenian Armed Forces.
The guest of honour and the main speaker at the ceremony was Ambassador of the Republic Slovenia to Kosovo His Excellency Jože Hlep who stressed the importance of Slovenian participation in the international operation KFOR in Kosovo.
The 20th Contingent consisted of 384 SAF members. The majority of the Contingent was represented by the Tasks Force Sokol which, besides SAF members, included also members of Italian and Hungarian armed forces. The Tasks Force Sokol consisted also of two liaison mentoring teams, a national support element and SAF members who worked at the KFOR Command in Pristina and at the Multinational Command-West. In line with KFOR transformation in January, the Slovenian Contingent undertook a gradual transformation process. The Task Force Sokol transferred the command over companies to a newly established Command of the Multinational Battle Group West and until the end of its mission supported the operation of Slovenian units, while individual SAF members returned home when the transformation process concluded.
The Task Force Sokol operated within the municipalities of Istok and Klina in size of 800 km2, comprising 120,000 people. It was responsible for protection of facilities of special importance, Goriok and Budisavci. The Task Force was especially complimented on successfully conducted tasks in North Kosovo where it took over its own area of responsibility in the municipality of Leposavic where it remained for a month. The Civil-Military Cooperation Group implemented 48 projects; it was especially proud of the project »Let's Take Care of Clean Environment in Kosovo« which will continue also after the departure of SAF members from Kosovo, since the international community will spread it into the entire area of Kosovo. The project was selected as a model case of civil-military cooperation in the areas of operation of NATO force. All liaison mentoring teams were also commended on their work, as well as many SAF members performing various command duties.
In the first week of March, when last changes will be made in the team structure, the 21st SAF Contingent will consist of 349 members form various SAF units. Despite KFOR transformation, the Contingent’s tasks remain the same: the provision of secure environment and the freedom of movement and the creation of conditions for the transfer of responsibility to civil authorities. Besides two manoeuvre companies with logistic elements, the 21st Contingent consists also of three liaison mentoring teams (Klina, Istok, Vucitrn), a military police platoon (subordinated to KFOR Command) and a national support element, while individual SAF members will perform their duties at the KFOR Command in Pristina and at the Multinational Battle Group-West in Pec.
