KFOR (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC)
Italian Major General Enrico Barduani has taken over as the new commander of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), having previously served a term in the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, as well as in Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
The Balkan Security Network portal reported on Oct. 9 that Barduani had been considered to possess special experience that had proven useful for such a politically and security-sensitive position, which is why he’s taking the leading post in the military mission in Kosovo for another year.
Italy has given the largest number of KFOR leaders so far, with 13 out of 28 KFOR commanders wearing a uniform of the Italian Armed Forces. Barduani served in Kosovo in 2001 as a deputy head of the Italian intelligence department, and again in 2015 and 2016 as the chief of staff to the KFOR commander.
The Italians have demonstrated awareness of how important it is to protect citizens and cultural heritage. They have played an important role in protecting the Visoki Decani Monastery, a task that is officially listed as a priority for the Italian KFOR sector.
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