Czech troops depart for Kosovo

The first part of a Czech reserve company, 60 out of a total 116 soldiers, has departed for Kosovo. The remaining members will rejoin the unit on Sunday. The unit is returning to the Balkans after a two-month break. Czech soldiers were called upon in March at the request of multinational peacekeeping forces to help maintain security after Kosovo declared independence. The Czech Republic has more than 400 soldiers in Kosovo, traditionally based in the northeast of the former Serb province as part of the KFOR mission since 1999. The Czech Republic has otherwise not recognised Kosovo’s independence although Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has indicated the country will eventually do so.