GENERAL BECK COMMENTS ON THREATS AGAINST U.S. TROOPS IN KOSOVO

BONDSTEEL CAMP, Kosovo, Aug 19 (Hina) - Those thinking about jeopardising the safety of U.S. troops in Kosovo are in the wrong, Brigadier General Jerry Beck said on Monday commenting on announcements by the so-called Albanian National Army (ANA) that Serbs might attack the U.S. camp Bondsteel near Urosevac. #L# Talking to reporters at the largest camp of American troops in Kosovo, Beck, who commands a multinational division of NATO peacekeepers (KFOR) in eastern Kosovo, said KFOR was aware of terrorist organisations in the province which aspired to destabilise the region. He neither denied nor confirmed the activity of the ANA on the Kosovo-Serbia border, where several incidents have taken place recently. Beck said KFOR was aware of extremist organisations which were active in Kosovo and were trying to take violence into neighbouring countries. Terrorists will not be tolerated but will be identified, arrested and punished, he said. According to Beck, the number of international troops in Kosovo is adequate to maintain security. He said KFOR had no reason to worry about announcements that a U.S. military base will be built in Serbia. Beck took the opportunity to extend his condolences to the families of Serb youths recently killed in Gorazdevac near Pec, slamming what he said was an insane crime. (hina) ha