Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo are running high. After Serbia put the army on alert, Kosovo closed a third border crossing – the largest – at Podujevo. The 195 Swiss army members of Swisscoy, which supports the NATO-led security force KFOR in Kosovo, are also affected by the conflict.
Daniel Seckler (33), media spokesman at Swissint, the Swiss army’s center of expertise for military peacebuilding, is calming things down for now. He told Blick: “The recent events in the north of Kosovo show that the situation in this part of the country is fragile and currently tense. Despite this, the situation in Kosovo can generally be considered calm and stable in most parts of the country, thanks in part to the efforts of KFOR.”
Weapons for self-defense only
The Swiss soldiers are armed with pistols or assault rifles and annoying sprinklers for self-defense. If the situation escalates and Serbia invades Kosovo, it will not be for the Swiss to defend Kosovo. Seckler: “Armed intervention elements are provided by other troop-contributing countries.”
Swisscoy is solely responsible for “ensuring a safe and stable environment and ensuring freedom of movement” in Kosovo. A return of the Swiss is currently not on the agenda. Seckler: “Switzerland could, in principle, withdraw the members of Swisscoy at any time.”
20 years in use
Swisscoy has been working in Kosovo for 20 years. The deployment of a soldier – currently 16 percent are women – takes six months. In 2020, parliament approved an extension of the mandate until the end of 2023.
The Swisscoy members are trained at the Swissint Competence Center in Stans-Oberdorf NW. This includes training on the current situation in the area of operations and how to act in the event of political or ethnic tensions. Seckler: “The members of Swisscoy therefore have the necessary knowledge to carry out their assignments and to estimate and reduce risks, even if the situation deteriorates.”
Seckler emphasizes: “The safety of the soldiers is the highest priority and takes precedence over operational needs.”
Guido Fields
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
