Beglitis visits Greek KFOR troops in Kosovo

Alternate Defence Minister Panos Beglitis on Tuesday visited the Greek force stationed in Kosovo, accompanied by Hellenic Army General Staff chief Lieutenant General Fragkoulis Fragkos, in order to convey the government's best wishes for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Beglitis first visited the headquarters of the KFOR multinational force, where he was briefed on its activities and developments in the region.

His next stop was the "Megas Alexandros" army base in Mitrovica, where the 646 Mechanised infantry battalion is stationed, and then the army base "Rigas Ferraios" in Urosevac, to visit the 501 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.

In statements during the visits, Beglitis praised the contribution made by the Greek battalions in the international peacekeeping force in efforts to consolidate peace, security and stability in Kosovo and the western Balkans as a whole.

"Greece has a dynamic presence in international peacekeeping operations, respecting both its international and allied obligations but, above all, with an interest in defending its national interests in a region that has suffered grievously in the recent past," he stressed.

Beglitis went on to say that Greece intended to continue participating in the peacekeeping force in Kosovo, in the framework of the UN mandate, in support of the fundamental religious and political rights of all the communities that made up Kosovo. He stressed that Greece's aim was to continue to be involved in peacekeeping missions where these were needed around the world because the government believed that the country protected its own interests best when it help ensure peace, security and stability, especially in geostrategically sensitive regions like the western Balkans.

"In the framework of strengthening Greece's role in the Balkans, we do not rule out the possibility of boosting our presence in the region," he added, noting that keeping to the schedule for the gradual reduction of KFOR would depend on assessments of whether the situation in the region was normalising.

The Greek delegation was unable to fit in a planned visit to a local monastery in order to meet Kosovo's bishop Artemios, due to lack of time before its return flight to Athens.