A new contingent of the National Army went on a KFOR peacekeeping mission to Kosovo on January 11. Attending the seeing off ceremony, President Maia Sandu, who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, said that by the participation of Moldovan service members in international peacekeeping missions, the Republic of Moldova realizes its human potential and strengthens its cooperation relations with the foreign partners, building their confidence in Moldova’s capacities to deliver peace and stability, IPN reports.
President Maia Sandu noted that the success of these efforts is also the result of long-lasting and productive cooperation with the international partners. She thanked the United States and the Republic of Italy for the assistance provided to Moldova in strengthening the training capacities of the Moldovan service members who take part in missions and for the logistical support enjoyed by the National Army contingent in the theater of operations in Kosovo.
Deputy Head of the Embassy of Italy in Chisinau Diego Randazzo said Moldova’s participation in the KFOR mission, which continues today with the leaving of the 14th contingent of the National Army in Kosovo, is an already stable confirmation of Moldova’s commitment to maintain peace and international security. “It is a result obtained also due to the role of Italy that immediately welcomed the proposal to include and support your country in the mission, doing our best for this process to take place successfully,” stated Diego Randazzo, being quoted in a press release of the Ministry of Defense.
Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Chisinau Martin McDowell said the deployment of a new contingent to Kosovo shows that the National Army of the Republic of Moldova is recognized as a qualified, capable and reliable force that can contribute to international peacekeeping missions. “The peacekeeping mission in Kosovo offers the National Army of the Republic of Moldova inestimable international military experience, enabling the Moldovan forces to increase their capacities and the level of interoperability with other armies and to show professionalism abroad,” noted Martin McDowell.
Minister of Defense Victor Gaiciuc said that about 600 officers, sergeants and soldiers of the National Army formed part of the KFOR operation during seven years, having an excellent performance on the missions, alongside comrades from the armies of other countries. “I’m sure that the 40 peacekeepers leaving for Kosovo are as professional and will cope with all the challenges, especially in these times of pandemic that affected the whole country,” stated Victor Gaiciuc.
The 14th contingent of the National Army consists of 40 professional service members, seven of whom are bomb disposal technicians and 33 are infantrymen, who will guard military facilities and will patrol areas.
The mission of the KFOR-14 contingent in Kosovo will last for six months.
