Blog Posts tagged with "Kosovo"

As I look back on 2011, I think we had a reasonably good year in the operational sense.  Lots of good “end of the year” retrospectives are appearing in various magazines and on-line sites, and I thought I’d chip in with my own top five operational moments for the Alliance this past year – and a hope that it stays at least relatively quiet between now and the end of the year.

Libyan Operations.  At the top of my list is the seven month operation we undertook at the request of the United Nations to protect the people of Libya from a repressive and ruthless dictator.  It was successfully completed in late October. 

DECIMOMANNU - A Dutch F-16 fighter takes off from Sardinia, Italy. The Netherlands contribute to the enforcement of the Operation Unified Protector No-Fly Zone. (NATO photo)

We conducted 26,000 aircraft sorties and intercepted over 3,000 ships in the course of conducting a no-fly zone and an arms embargo.  In order to limit the ability of the Libyan regime to attack its own people, we conducted nearly 9,000 strike sorties and hit well over 6,000 targets, effectively destroying much of the “kill chain.”  While no operation is perfect, we tried very hard to limit collateral damage to the minimum.  Overall we learned a great deal and will work on improving targeting, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, air refueling, and other aspects of our capabilities.

Afghanistan Transition and Operations.  In November, the government of Afghanistan announced a second group of provinces and districts that began transition to Afghan Security Force-led operations.  This brings about 50% of the entire population of Afghanistan under the protection of Afghan Army and Police units, with the international coalition and NATO in a support, mentorship, and training role in this area.

Our plan to complete a full transition by the end of 2014 remains on track, although significant challenges remain, especially in relations with Pakistan.  We suffered from a cross-border incident that included the tragic deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers and is under investigation today.  We’re hoping to improve coordination and cooperation across the border as the New Year unfolds.

Due to a series of violent incidents in northern Kosovo, our NATO Commander requested and has in hand an over-the-horizon security force to help maintain a safe and secure environment.  I’ll be headed there personally soon to evaluate and present options to NATO.  Clearly, this is a politically charged situation and the EU is working hard to bring the parties together.

Reductions in Piracy.  After several years of rising attack levels, we may be seeing progress against attacks in the second half of 2011.  Success rates for attacks have dropped considerably, and there are fewer attacks than during this period last year.  Some of the reasons for this include patrolling by NATO, EU, and various national forces at sea; pressure ashore militarily and in the area of development; better practices at sea by civilian mariners (convoys and citadels, for example); and the addition of armed security teams. 

NATO remains committed to the counter-piracy mission, and our ships will continue to sail in the area off the coast of Africa for the foreseeable future.

Missile Defense Unfolding.  The first steps in creating a new, alliance-based missile defense system in Europe are in progress.  The United States, providing a sea-based AEGIS system initially, has sent ships to sea as a framework.  NATO is putting in place the command-and-control system to ensure we do this right.  The hope is to offer an initial capability in time for the May 2012 summit in Chicago.  While a challenging timeline, I think we can and will make it.  Stay tuned!

Overall, we’ve done quite a bit in NATO operations in 2011 – with 170,000 operators on three continents at our peak during Libyan operations.  We’re also doing things in cyber, restructuring and stream-lining our command structures (cutting 6 major HQ and 4,000 billets, for example), air policing, and many other things.

It’s been a busy year, but a good one overall. 

Admiral James Stavridis
Commander
U.S. European Command

This coming week, the 28 Ministers of Defense of the NATO alliance will gather in Brussels for meetings and discussions. They will be accompanied by another 22 Ministers from additional troop contributing nations in Afghanistan — in essence, the entire coalition will be represented.

NAC meeting in Defence Ministers session in June 2011.

As Supreme Allied Commander, one of my jobs is to brief the Ministers.

I’ll be talking about Afghanistan, but also about Libya, Kosovo, and several other key topics. It should be a busy and important week as our Secretary General, Anders Rasmussen, really begins the push toward the big NATO summit in late summer of 2012.

Adm Stavridis during his visit to Camp Ghazi, Afghanistan, watching NCO training, June 2011

On Afghanistan, I will present an honest picture of a challenging operation. My own sense is that we continue to make reasonable progress in the security sphere. I can tick off the indicators of progress, including topping 300,000 Afghan security forces trained and in the field; many key insurgents captured or killed; a successful transition to Afghan led security in 25% of Afghanistan, with a plan for another 25% in the coming months; 120,000 Afghan security personnel in literacy training to give a few examples.

There are, of course, challenges. Of note, recent attacks in Kabul (although deaths were very few, they achieved a great deal of publicity) and the assassination of Professor Rabbanni, who had led the reconciliation commission are setbacks. And the Haqanni network continues to be a thorn in the side of progress, as well as ongoing need to tackle corruption. So it is a mixed picture, but one that I would say shows progress toward our goal of turning over full transition to Afghan led security operations by the end of 2014.

In terms of Libya, the picture is reasonably good. Our missions of protecting civilians, conducting an arms embargo, and enforcing a no-fly zone are coming to a successful conclusion. When the last few Kaddaffy forces surrender, which I would anticipate within a few weeks at most, we will be prepared to recommend an end to NATO military operations.
When to conclude and under what criteria are of course political decisions, but I’m sure the Ministers will discuss that following my operational brief.

SACEUR during his visit to Kosovo, May 2011

As I look at the Balkans, I’m a bit worried by recent violence in the north. It is incumbent on all parties to work toward a peaceful, negotiated solution. Our NATO forces, ably led by German two-star General Erhard Dreves, will continue to preserve a safe and secure environment so that the EU can facilitate a peaceful dialog.

So it is a busy time around the alliance, with 160,000 Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen engaged in active service on three continents. I will do my best to present an honest, balanced, and coherent picture to the Ministers as they undertake the hard policy and political work of deciding how we go forward in our important work.

Best,
Jim

Admiral, USN
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander, US European Command
“Stronger Together”

Libya and Afghanistan seem to get all the headlines about NATO these days. But lately, I've been thinking and working on the Balkans. We need to make sure that the Balkan ghosts of violence from the 1990s don't reappear.

The key NATO mission in the Balkans, of course, is Kosovo. At one time, NATO and our coalition partners had 50,000 troops stationed there in the early part of the last decade. When I arrived here in 2009, we still had over 15,000 troops from 32 nations maintaining a "safe and secure environment."

Over the past two years, we've been able to draw that down to our current level of just over 5,000. We've seen the Kosovo Security Force build up and take over a variety of duties related to emergency response, humanitarian assistance, and so forth. Dialog has been underway between Kosovo and Serbia.

Yet the past week has been troubling, in that we've seen a flare-up of tensions in the north of Kosovo, where a large percentage of the population is ethnically Serbian and maintains close links to that country. We've seen shootings, the death of a Kosovo police officer, fires, and road-blocks.

Working closely with the European Union mission (called EULEX), our NATO and coalition forces (KFOR) have managed to ensure an uneasy peace which has held so far. But this is a matter of real concern.

Political discussions between Serbia and Kosovo continue, and the border tensions are at the center of the dialog. It is important for NATO and coalition forces to maintain a safe and secure environment so the political entities involved (Serbia, Kosovo, EU, various national embassies) can work toward peaceful solutions.

While the Balkans have been an overall success story for NATO (after all, well over 100,000 people were killed during ethnic violence in the 1990s), we all need to stay engaged to make sure the region doesn't fall backward.

NATO and our coalition partners in Kosovo are committed to ensuring we move forward with stability and minimal violence.

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

I spent a fascinating day in Kosovo last week, visiting as the NATO Commander just a few days before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived to represent ongoing US support for Kosovo.  In a phrase: What a difference a decade makes.

I met with the clergy at Zociste Monastery in Southern Kosovo.

While not in the headlines in the United States for several years, the situation in the late 1990s in Kosovo was truly terrible, which prompted NATO to take action.  A brutal campaign of "ethnic cleansing" caused at least 50,000 civilian deaths and led to a NATO intervention.  Over 1,500,000 civilians were displaced and became refugees.

NATO has been helping to guarantee a safe and secure environment for ALL citizens for the past 11 years.  

At its height, there were nearly 50,000 NATO and coalition troops in Kosovo.

During my 16 months as SACEUR, we've reduced troop levels from 15,000 to 9,000 and, pending direction from the North Atlantic Council, are moving to draw down even further -- a testimony to the success of the mission. The NATO mission in Kosovo has been well supported by Alliance nations along with 7 non-NATO troop contributing nations today.

In addition to helping provide the broad security required to ensure a secure and stable environment, NATO has protected key religious sites and trained the new Kosovo Security Force.  We have "unfixed" from 2 of 9 of these religious sites this year (which is "NATO speak" meaning that NATO troops no longer directly protect the sites), and the Kosovo Police have performed flawlessly since taking full responsibility for the first 2 "unfixed" sites.  The "unfixing" of a third site is scheduled for completion in early November.

Major General Erhard Bühler, Commander KFOR (f.l.t.r.), Brigadier General Stephan Thomas, Commander MNBG South, and I visit an Observation Point near Zociste Monastery.

During my visit, I spent time at a Serbian Orthodox Monastery, one of 7 sensitive sites in Kosovo still protected by NATO troops today.  The Serbian Monks are dedicated men protecting a religious site that dates from the 13th century.

Overall, I came away with a sense that this kind of peace support mission undertaken by NATO and our partners can succeed, despite turbulent conditions, ethnic and religious tension, and environmental challenges.

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

I spent two days in the Balkans last week, primarily focused on Kosovo, where NATO continues to deploy about 10,000 troops in support of UN resolutions to provide security and stability. The good news is that we are down from several times that number a few years ago, and in the nine months I’ve been Supreme Allied Commander Europe, we’ve been able to reduce from 15,000 – real progress.

Here I am posing with Bishop Theodosije at the Decani Monastery in Kosovo.

The two days I spent there last week were focused on travel around the entire country – mostly by Blackhawk helicopters – to see some of the most sensitive cultural sites in the Balkans. Of particular note was the monastery at Decani, built in the 1200s by the Serbian Orthodox Church and led today by Bishop Theodosije, a spiritual leader of 30 monks who continue to “tend their gardens” at this United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Cultural site. It is protected by NATO forces, and we will continue to ensure it is preserved.

I also had visits with the President of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu, and the Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi. I learned a great deal from them, as we discussed a wide variety of topics of mutual interest, fom the security situation in Kosovo to the economy. Perhaps the greatest challenge to Kosovo is an unemployment rate of about 40 percent, and developing a stronger economy was very much on the minds of all the Kosovar leadership with whom I spoke.

The good cooperation between NATO, the EU, and the Kosovo Police and Security Forces has been noteworthy. I had a chance to observe a very impressive exercise conducted between the three entities against a mock “riot.” The three layers of response (Kosovo Police, EU, and NATO) reacted properly and smoothly. It is clear that coordination between the local forces and the two external agencies are going well, and we’ll continue to improve on it.

Kosovo President, Fatmir Sejdiu, and I got the chance to sit down and talk.

There is certainly plenty of controversy in the Balkans today, but when I think back a decade ago – massacres, murders, rapes, torture, war across borders – there has been enormous progress. Both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo were sites of enormous anguish and disagreement, with hundreds of thousands of people dying in attempts at ethnic cleansing. Today, there is still disagreement about borders and the future, but very few are advocating violence as an approach. The Balkans stands as an example of the international community’s ability (including NATO) to bring and enforce peace solutions to disagreements. Much progress has been made, and I’m proud to be part of ensuring we don’t fall back.

As I flew over Kosovo's green fields, busy mines, and small houses, I reflected on the country's future. In the course of preparing for my visit, I read a remarkable short book, “The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo,” by Paula Huntley, where she shares her experience as an American teacher who taught English (using, among other books, “The Old Man and the Sea”) to young Kosovars from 2000-2001. In the end, the future of any place is all about young people with their energy, enthusiasm, and desire to improve the world. In that sense, I have high hopes for Kosovo.

Admiral James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Below is an interview I did during the visit. Thanks for watching and please comment!

Flying home through bumpy weather from Pristina, Kosovo after a very full day visiting our Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops. Along with me are the Ambassadors of the United States, Germany, and Turkey to NATO. We spent a rainy, muddy day alongside 13,000 soldiers from over 30 countries -- all deeply involved in the vital mission of maintaining a safe and secure environment in Kosovo.

I am greeted by the NATO Kosovo Forces (KFOR) honor guard when I arrived at the Allied forces forces base. (NATO photo by MC2 Stefanie Antosh)

The NATO effort in Kosovo has a long, successful history since 1999, and while the KFOR force will undergo changes, the mission will not change. I recommended earlier this year that we reduce our overall force down to 10,000 troops by the end of January, and that has been approved by the North Atlantic Council, the supreme political decision making body of NATO. I made that recommendation after careful study of the security situation, and progress by the international community in advancing positive civil-military cooperation.

One important indicator to me of improving security and safety was the recent successful elections, which had a robust turnout including a sizeable portion of the minority Serbian population. This is a clear sign of the growing trust the citizens of Kosovo have in their own future.

NATO allied forces in Kosovo perform a crowd and riot control exercise during my visit. (NATO photo by MC2 Stefanie Antosh)

Today, I climbed to the top of the high tower at Gazimestan to watch a KFOR, EULEX (EU Rule of Law Mission), and Kosovo Police exercise repelling a violent demonstration. The combined forces included Slovaks, Swedes, Spanish, Italian, German, American, and Irish. It was a spirited and realistic exercise, complete with over a hundred "demonstrators" who were role-playing. I walked away very confident in the NATO, EU, Kosovo Police Force ability to handle the current and future security situation, providing for a safe and security environment in Kosovo. I am encouraged in Kosovo by the teamwork between the UN, EU, NATO, and other organizations both public and private. This kind of "comprehensive approach" is the absolute key to security in this 21st century.

Over a cup of coffee, I spoke with the dynamic German Lieutenant General in command, Markus Bentler. His assessment tallies with mine about Kosovo: though challenges remain, capabilities are postured for success to fulfill our mission of providing a safe and secure environment. At the core of this success are our KFOR servicemen and women. At this time of year, it is important to remember that our servicemen are NATO, the EU, and the Kosovo Police Force ‘on watch’ for the people of Kosovo. Their service is exceptional, duty exemplary, and contribution vital to the security and stability we enjoy.

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

In a small wood-paneled ballroom at the glittering Adlon Hotel of Berlin, a parade of speakers celebrated what is called in German “die Mauerfall” --"the fall of the wall." It came in the 60th year of the NATO Alliance, and was hosted by the Atlantic Council.

The best speech of the night was from Hillary Clinton, who accepted a "Freedom's Challenge" award on behalf of the American people. As she spoke eloquently of all that the trans-Atlantic Alliance has meant over the years, I thought not of the past, but of the future. As Secretary Clinton said, essentially the fall of the wall was not the end of history, but the beginning. So true.

The other remarkable speech was from Vaclav Havel, the former President of Czechoslovakia and the leader of the "velvet revolution." Drawing on his novel, "The Magic Lantern," he spoke of the light shining anew through the lands of the east. Sitting in that ball room with Americans Henry Kissinger, Brent Scocroft, Zbigniew Brzezinski and their European counterparts from those days two decades ago, one felt indeed the power of the light of liberty.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (on behalf of the American people), German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (on behalf of the German people), Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowerite (on behalf of the German people), Former President of Poland Lech Walesa, Vaclav Havel (in absentia), and myself (on behalf of NATO troops) accepting the 2009 Freedom Awards, presented by The Atlantic Council.

I was privileged to receive an award alongside Secretary Clinton -- for the NATO troops who had been a part of all that was achieved in ending the Cold War and helping bring about the fall of the wall. In a very brief set of remarks, I said that I was truly humbled by the privilege of accepting this award on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians, past and present, upon whose shoulders rest the pillars of the trans-Atlantic bridge.

This is THEIR award, and I accepted it for them with pride for what they have done for the trans-Atlantic community over the past six decades and what they do today across the broad geographic stretch of NATO operations. German–American statesman and General, Carl Shurz, once remarked that “If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors.”

For 60 years, the NATO Alliance has endeavored to preserve the freedoms of its member nations and to encourage the spread of freedom to its neighbors.

I am speaking to the audience after receiving the Atlantic Council Freedom Award on behalf of NATO troops.

For the long decades of the Cold War, the men and women of NATO stood watch. They manned the lines. They flew and sailed on distant patrol. They protected us all. And their steady determination and dedication to what is best in us all – freedom, liberty, democracy, rule of law – in the end helped bring down this wall.

Steadily, the Alliance has since grown from 12 nations to 28, and today, those 28 nations are working together to build mutual security and develop a deep capacity for tackling together the complex security challenges we face.

Today, the men and women of NATO continue to reassure every member of this Alliance of the rock-hard guarantee of Article 5 – we are committed to each other and stronger together.

Today, the men and women of NATO can also be found far away in Afghanistan, where 65,000 of them are decisively engaged.
They can be found in the Balkans – most notably in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina – where they have stemmed the tide of violence and where more than 15,000 of them every day contribute to a safe and secure environment; And they can be found at sea where they demonstrate our resolve to protect us in the Mediterranean … and off the Horn of Africa where they safeguard those strategic waterways from piracy.

One of my most distinguished predecessors, U.S. Marine General Jim Jones, is a good friend and mentor. He said to me as I prepared to join the team at NATO, that this is the most successful Alliance in history. I agree with all my heart.

Our NATO Alliance endures and is strong today. We are adapting to a rapidly changing world. Our future is bright and our men and women are as steadfast in their resolve to safeguard our freedoms and promote liberty as prior generations have been over the past 60 years. This award recognizes their enduring achievements and serves as a symbol of all they pledge to NATO.

What a night to be in Berlin.

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe