NATO to Cut Kosovo Troop Levels

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NATO to Cut Kosovo Troop Levels
December 17, 2009
Associated Press

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Despite opposition from Serbia, NATO's commander for Southeast Europe said the alliance will cut down its force in Kosovo by some 4,500 troops in January for possible use in hotspots like Afghanistan or Iraq.

Adm. Mark Fitzgerald said Wednesday NATO will keep 10,000 troops in Kosovo which proclaimed independence from Serbia last year. He said there could be further reductions.

Fitzgerald said the pullout is because NATO assessed the security situation in the region as improved.

"NATO looked at the security situation and said we are satisfied and we will look at further reductions depending on the situation," Fitzgerald told reporters in Belgrade.

Pro-Western Serbian government officials have expressed fears that the reduced NATO presence would not be enough to protect minority Kosovo Serbs from retaliatory attacks by majority Albanians.


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