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Radicova: Slovakia Plans Drawdown of KFOR Mission
Monday 27 September 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Sajkovac, September 27 (TASR) - Slovakia will gradually withdraw its soldiers from the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova confirmed during her one-day visit to the Slovak contingent based in a military facility in Sajkovac.
"The original contract signed by Slovakia is valid until the autumn of this year. Hence, we've met our obligations," said Radicova, adding that the drawdown will be taking place until November 2010. "There's an exact schedule for the withdrawal of Slovak unit," she said.
The Prime Minister rejected the notion that the Slovak unit is to be withdrawn because Slovakia refused to recognise the independence of Kosovo.
"The contract concerning our activities in the area had been signed before the issue of recognising Kosovo's independence arose," she stressed, adding that Slovakia has been involved in the mission for 11 years. When asked whether the current Government will recognise Kosovo's independence or not, Radicova replied that the answer hinges on the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
"If this dialogue takes place, we've never said that our stance is immutable," she said.
According to Chief of the General Staff Lubomir Bulik, Slovakia won't have a single serviceman in the area by November 30.
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