NATO’s Kosovo peacekeeping mission, KFOR, said Monday that it has begun integrating Kosovo Police personnel into its security architecture at the Deçan Monastery as part of a gradual adjustment to its deployment in Kosovo.
KFOR said the move follows an improvement in the overall security situation and forms part of efforts to optimise the mission’s presence.
“This process will be gradual and conditions-based and is being closely coordinated with a number of actors, including representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Kosovo institutions, as well as the Kosovo Police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo,” a KFOR spokesperson said.
KFOR stressed that its commitment to protecting the Deçan Monastery and the security of all local communities remains unchanged.
“Our personnel are well positioned to respond to any relevant development, in line with KFOR’s longstanding UN-based mandate. KFOR remains the first responder for the security of the Deçan Monastery,” the spokesperson said.
The mission also said it would continue close cooperation with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Kosovo institutions, international organisations and the Serbian Armed Forces.
According to KFOR, the aim of maintaining these channels is to ensure transparency, cooperation and mutual trust while preventing misunderstandings between the various actors involved in the security arrangements.
“It is important that all parties engage constructively in dialogue and cooperation,” the KFOR spokesperson said.
The Deçan Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important Serbian Orthodox religious sites in Kosovo, has long been subject to heightened security measures. KFOR has historically played a central role in protecting the site.
The latest move signals a gradual shift in security responsibilities while maintaining KFOR’s role as the primary security responder at the monastery.
