Austria will take over command of the Multinational Brigade South of KFOR (Kosovo Force) for a year, beginning May 29.
Austria is the first non-NATO country to command the brigade, a Defence Ministry press release said Wednesday,
Austrian Defence Minister Norbert Darabos said in a statement on May 28 that his country played a key role in the KFOR, an international peacekeeping force led by the NATO. The latest appointment showed the KFOR's "great trust" in Austria, he added.
Darabos said he believes "Austria will accomplish the mission with high professionalism".
The Multinational Brigade South of KFOR consists of about 3800 soldiers from Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia, Switzerland and Turkey. The last commandant of this force was from Turkey.
The KFOR consists of about 16,000 soldiers from 34 countries. Austria has sent about 12,000 troops to the KFOR since 1999, and some 700 Austrian soldiers are still on garrison in Kosovo.
Source:Xinhua
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