Cron April 2011_Layout 1 - ACO - NATO

We have seen a lot of events on Kosovo’s political scene in thefirst quarter of 2011. Let me mention just the most importantones. After the repetition of elections in several municipalities inJanuary 2011 and the certification of theelection results in the beginning of February, the Governmentwas established on 22 February 2011. The new Governmentfaced a lot of challenges since the very beginning of its work. Ithad to pass the 2011 Budget in the Assembly in order toovercome the budgetary provisory of the first three months, whilealso fulfilling the pre-election promises to raise the salaries ofemployees in the public sector – a decision which meant a heavyburden to the Kosovo budget. It also had to start EU mediatednegotiations with Serbia in Belgrade, facing strong oppositionboth in the Assembly and by the public. Last but not least, it hadto face the decision of the Constitutional Court declaring theelection of the President on 22 February 2011 unconstitutional. Iam glad I can say that the Government and the leaders of thepolitical parties managed to overcome all those problems.Kosovo now has a young and dedicated President, a Governmentapproved by the majority in the Assembly, a budget which allowsthe functioning of Institutions in Kosovo, and the dialogue withSerbia on the technical issues continues in a constructive way.My fellow comrades! Your service here in Kosovo remains as relevant as ever. We are getting closer toattaining our mission goals, but still have a considerable way to go. As the day to day mission here has becomeless and less of a kinetic nature it has become easier to become complacent in our tasks. I challenge you not tobecome so. Only by remaining steadfast in our commitments, both as individual soldiers and as an organization,will we persevere in our goal of keeping Kosovo safe and secure. To this end may we all continue to be"Together for Progress!"* Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.Commander KFORMajor General Erhard Bühler, German ArmyChief Public Affairs Officeand KFOR SpokesmanCaptain Dr. Hans-Dieter Wichter, German NavyChief Internal Information & EditorCommandant Daragh O’Brien, Irish Defence Forceso’briend@hq.kfor.nato.intPhotographer and DesignMr. Afrim HajrullahuCover PhotoMaster Sergeant Steffen Maluche, German ArmyE-mail & web:kforchr onicle@hq.kfor.nato.intwww.nato.int/kforThe KFOR Chronicle is produced and fullyfunded by HQ KFOR. It is published for KFORforces in the area of responsibility.The contents are not necessarily the officialviews of, or endorsed by, the coalitiongovernments’ defense departments.Editorial content is edited, prepared andprovided by the Internal Information Sectionof HQ KFOR’s Public Affairs Office(PAO) in Pristina, Kosovo.PAO HQ KFORreserves the right to edit content toconform to style and space requirements.Articles run on a space-available basis.The KFOR Chronicle isprinted by RASTERTel: 038 601 606Nations within KFOR:NATO NationsAlbaniaLuxembourgBulgariaNetherlandsCanadaNorwayCroatiaPolandCzech RepublicPortugalDenmarkRomaniaEstoniaSloveniaFranceSpainGermanyTurkeyGreeceUnited KingdomHungaryUnited StatesItalyNon-NATO NationsArmeniaMoroccoAustriaSwedenFinlandSwitzerlandIrelandUkraineKFOR Chronicle, April 20113