Ongoing Baltic support for Kosovo

After being among the first nations to recognize the independence of Kosovo (February 17, 2008), the Baltic States are continuing to show support for the small, newly independent nation, by sending troops, experts and funds to the region.

As reported, Lithuania announced yesterday that a team of 25 soldiers, the Lithuanian KFOR-18 (Kosovo Force-18) departed for a relief mission to the southern border Kosovo to work with a Polish and Ukrainian unit.

Participating in NATO peace-keeping missions in Kosovo along with Latvia and Lithuania since 1999, a current Estonian intelligence unit of 26 people is functioning as part of a Danish battalion in Mitrovica, northern Kosovo.   

The Estonian Embassy in Washington stated in a security policy report, that Estonia feels it is crucial to keep contributing to the efforts as long as the need for aid remains.

The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers confirmed today that they approved the participation of Inga Sarsune, a Foreign Ministry expert in EULEX Kosovo, the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.

She currently serves as Second Secretary of the Security Policy Department at the Ministry. Her mission to Kosovo, as a Situation Centre Operations Officer, is to take place from 1 June 2008 to 1 July 2009.

The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union has approved a total of eight Latvian experts, seven of them representing the Ministry of the Interior.

According to a press release from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Latvia is of the opinion that stability in Kosovo is crucial for a sustainable economic and social development in the whole of the Western Balkan region. Such stability cannot be ensured without significant reforms in the field of the rule of law, and without the enhancement of law enforcement bodies.

The press release went on to state that Latvia ensured the participation of units of the National Armed forces of Latvia in the NATO-led international operation in Kosovo (KFOR), and in addition supports the EU contribution towards the development of the rule of law and justice in Kosovo by sending its experts.