September - ACO - NATO

Story by OF-4 GRIMOPREZ Hervé, FRA ArmyPhotos by OR-4 PHAIE Maxime, FRA ArmyOn Thursday, 17 September 2009, Brigadier General ArnaudSAINTE-CLAIRE Deville replaced Brigadier GeneralPatrick Ribayrol as the Multinational Task Force North(MNTF-N) Commander. The Transfer of Authorityceremony, which took place at the Camp Maréchal de Lattrede Tassigny, Novo Selo, was presided over by the KosovoForce Commander (COMKFOR), Lieutenant GeneralMarkus BENTLER.During the speech, COMKFOR stressed that BrigadierGeneral Patrick RIBAYROL was very successful inmaintaining a safe and secure environment inNorthern Kosovo, which represents the mostsensitive areaof KFOR responsibility. In his view, KFOR isprogressing down a path towards the gradual reduction ofpersonnel on the ground. This is only possible because of theoutstanding performance of soldiers who came before andset the conditions for this transition. As a result, KFOR isnow able to begin reducing the force structure withoutcompromising the already achieved success. However, thereis still a lot of work needed in the future to supportInstitutions in Kosovo and people of Kosovo in theirmovement to positive economic development, interethnictolerance and prosperity. According to COMKFOR'sassessment, soldiers of MNTF-N have fulfilled their mission.Before departing, General Patrick Ribayrol expressed hisgratitude to the soldiers from France, Denmark, Greece,Morocco, Belgium, Luxembourg and Estonia, as well as tothe soldiers of the other different Task Forces (TF), whoserved within MNTF-N under his10KFOR Chronicle, September, 2009