BELGRADE/PRISTINA, Aug 17 (Hina) - Representatives of Yugoslav military and police forces and of NATO-led international peace keepers in Kosovo (KFOR) on Friday signed an agreement on completely defusing tension in the zone of the
land security. Under the agreement, Yugoslav units are allowed to be present in that buffer zone with no restriction in their equipment and the system of weapons. KFOR Commander, Norwegian General Thirsten Skier, said the deal signed in the village of Merdare showed that UN Security Council's Resolution 1244 was being implemented step by step. According to a joint statement released by KFOR command and Yugoslav military officials, the just signed agreement referred to the zone of land security. They underline that an agreement, signed in Kumanovo after NATO's air strikes against targets in Yugoslavia in 1999, remains to be in force. Thus the Kumanovo document's guideli
BELGRADE/PRISTINA, Aug 17 (Hina) - Representatives of Yugoslav
military and police forces and of NATO-led international peace
keepers in Kosovo (KFOR) on Friday signed an agreement on
completely defusing tension in the zone of the land security.
Under the agreement, Yugoslav units are allowed to be present in
that buffer zone with no restriction in their equipment and the
system of weapons.
KFOR Commander, Norwegian General Thirsten Skier, said the deal
signed in the village of Merdare showed that UN Security Council's
Resolution 1244 was being implemented step by step.
According to a joint statement released by KFOR command and
Yugoslav military officials, the just signed agreement referred to
the zone of land security. They underline that an agreement, signed
in Kumanovo after NATO's air strikes against targets in Yugoslavia
in 1999, remains to be in force. Thus the Kumanovo document's
guidelines about air security are also in force and KFOR Commander
remains to be the chief authority of the Agreement.
Thus, only two Red Cross helicopters, apart from KFOR, will be
allowed to use air space above the said buffer zone for evacuations
for medical purpose.
According to the agreement signed on Friday, the entrance of
Yugoslav forces into the zone of land security will be proportional
to needs.
The deal will be considered every six months.
KFOR spokesman Howard Rhodes said the deployment of Yugoslav troops
would start immediately.
The deployment of these troops at the boundary line between Serbia
and Kosovo is proceeding calmly and with no problem, KFOR sources
reported on Friday afternoon.
Yugoslav General Ninoslav Krstic said that with today's conclusion
of the agreement "only one step has been done, and the real step is
to be made."
(hina) ms