Serbs from northern Kosovo have the most confidence in the KFOR mission, which has been especially highlighted after the recent escalation in Banjska, according to the findings of Demostats focus groups. As we learn, KFOR members are perceived by the Serbian community as “professional, independent”, unlike some other international factors, which are often perceived as “pro-Albanian”.

Some residents of municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija even state that KFOR is the” only factor” they trust, which is explained by the loss of faith in the Serbian government, as well as in the Serbian newspaper, loyal to official Belgrade, while they never had high expectations from Pristina. These, already low expectations from the Pristina authorities, “disappeared” completely after the hardliner Albin Kurti, who refuses to form the community of Serb municipalities, came to the head of the Government again, an obligation undertaken as early as the Brussels agreement from 2013.

At the same time, a part of the Serbs living in the northern part of Kosovo believes that the action of the armed group, which ended with the death of a Kosovo police officer and three Serbian young men, “caused enormous damage to the Serb community”. Let us remind that, according to the unofficial findings of the Demostat from diplomatic circles, the possibility of escalation of violence, similar to what happened in Banjska, should not be excluded unless KFOR fully assumes responsibility for the security of northern Kosovo, and EULEX for the administration, i.e. if the “interregnum”, created by the departure of Serbs from all Pristina institutions last year, is not filled. There are also claims that new clashes between Serbs and Albanians would be so large “that the Serbian army would be forced to react”.

Shortly after September 24th, after the tragic events in Kosovo, NATO decided to deploy additional KFOR troops. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that “NATOS KFOR mission will always take the necessary actions to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all”. Turkish Major General Ozkan Ulutas took over on the October 10th, and became the commander of KFOR, "succeeding" Italian Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia. At a ceremony held at KFOR headquarters in Pristina, which was also attended by Demostat Executive Director Tamara Bajcic, Ristuccia thanked his staff and members of KFOR who helped him in the performance of his duties, “with complete dedication, dedication, professionalism, empathy and impartiality”.

- I want to thank those who had the confidence to assign me the task of leading KFOR, and who supported me during this challenging endeavor, in which we did our best to preserve peace and stability for all who live in Kosovo. I would like to thank the Alliance and all the countries contributing forces to this mission for their invaluable support, by which they have provided us with the means and capabilities to carry out this task. I thank my political and military chain of command, both at the NATO and national level, for their leadership, regular advice, and above all, support. I never felt alone, he said.

^{Photo: Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, Commander of NATOs Joint Force Command in Naples (JFC Naples), honors the outgoing KFOR commander, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia; Source: Demostat.}

Major General Ulutash said: “with awareness of the responsibility assigned to me at this sensitive time for Kosovo, I am taking Command, determined to put all my efforts and experience to ensure that this valued unit serves successfully in the future, as it has done in the past”.

Maj. Gen. Ulutash said in his address: “this unit, whose command I am entrusted with, will continue to fulfill its mission in a completely impartial and professional manner, in a manner dictated by its international responsibility, in accordance with the objectives with which it was founded and the values of NATO and the United Nations, on which it is based”. He thanked all the commanders and previous members of KFOR for their contribution.

- I would like to sincerely thank all the commanders and previous members of KFOR who have contributed to the creation and maintenance of the current strength and posture of KFOR during the past twenty-four years. I would also like to sincerely thank Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, who successfully managed this mission during the previous year. He performed his task with dedication and professionalism. I am grateful to him for his efforts and contributions, and wish him success in the future.

"A long and successful career”

Ozkan Ulutas, the new KFOR commander, the first one from Turkey, has a long and successful career behind him, both in his country and outside. In his previous position, he served as the head of the strategy Directorate of the General Staff of the Turkish army.