A new 41-strong National Army contingent to go to Kosovo
The 19th National Army contingent of 41 soldiers will leave for Kosovo this week. The soldiers will carry out security and guard missions for military objectives in Kosovo. The deployment ceremony was attended by NATO representatives in Chisinau, diplomats from the United States of America, Italy and the wives of the soldiers.
While some soldiers say they will be deployed for the first time for 6 months in Kosovo, other officers said they will be deployed to the Italian military base Camp Villaggio in Pech in Kosovo for the second time. According to them, they will carry out security and guard missions for military objectives in Kosovo.
"I am part of the engineer group that will be deployed to the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Some of the soldiers will be tasked with searching the ground, clearing and neutralising explosive objects following the conflicts that took place in that region several years ago. This is the second time I have been on this mission. We will be working together with the Italian and US bomb squad."
"We will be patrolling the settlements in Kosovo with technical units, we will be executing security and guard missions for military objectives. This is the first time I am taking part in this international mission, but I have been preparing for more than three years."
Relatives of the officers were also present at the deployment ceremony of the 19th contingent of the National Army to the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. The soldiers' wives also said they were worried about the soldiers because there have been clashes between Serbs and Kosovars in Kosovo lately, but they will communicate with them daily via social media.
"I understand my husband because I am also a military member of the National Army. I hope everything will be fine and I am waiting for him at home. Of course we will communicate through social media."
"I came to support my beloved. I wish him strength, success and I am waiting for him at home."
Defence Minister Anatoly Nosatyi, said that all military practices learned from Italian and American officers in Kosovo will be brought home and applied in the National Army.
"For 9 years, the National Army servicemen in Kosovo have gained experience, learning military practices from officers from other countries. This was difficult to achieve without the support of the Italian and US military," said Defence Minister Anatoly Nosatyi.
Through their mission, Moldovan officers will join more than 3,500 soldiers from 26 countries who are currently in Kosovo, the US Ambassador to Chisinau, Kent Logsdon, said at the ceremony. The US diplomat added that the US will continue to support the National Army.
"The Moldovan military will leave for Kosovo this weekend. You have the privilege of representing the National Army abroad, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills to the international community," said Kent Logsdon.
He said that the 18th contingent of the National Army currently stationed at the Italian Camp Villaggio military base in Pech, Kosovo, will return on 28 July, and the return ceremony will be on 31 July. The 19th National Army contingent will return to Moldova on 28 January 2024.
The KFOR peacekeeping operation is led by the North Atlantic Alliance. The decision to deploy the National Army contingent to the KFOR operation was approved by the Moldovan Parliament on 1 November 2013. The first Moldovan contingent left for Kosovo on 8 March 2014.
