Vienna, April 26, 2012
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The Austrian Defense Ministry has confirmed that the first group of 125 soldiers will leave for Kosovo tomorrow.
The contingent will consist of a total of 125 Austrian soldiers that should provide back up to KFOR, Austrian Defense Ministry Spokesman Michael Bauer told APA news agency.
The mission will start on May 1, and the additional unit will stay in Kosovo up to eight weeks, depending on security situation, he explained.
KFOR Commander, German General Erhard Drews, has requested the reinforcement so the mission could provide security in northern Kosovo during the May 6 elections, APA has reported.
The additional ORF troops will consist of German and Austrian soldiers and they will provide back up for around 6,200 soldiers that are permanently stationed in Kosovo.
With more than 1,200 soldiers, Germany has the biggest contingent at KFOR, and, with more than 400 soldiers, Austria has the biggest contingent among the countries which are not NATO members.
ORF troops have already provided support for KFOR once, due to tensions caused last summer, after an action of Kosovo special forces 'Rosu' in northern Kosovo.
