MACEDONIAN MILITARY ASSUMES CONTROL OF KFOR

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000465 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KS MK SUBJECT: MACEDONIAN MILITARY ASSUMES CONTROL OF KFOR LOGISTICS AND MILITARY BASE ¶1. (U) On June 7, the NATO HQs in Skopje formally returned all operational control of Camp Able Sentry (CAS) to the Macedonian military, in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Defense, the CHOD, the Ambassador, and the NATO HQ Senior Military Commander. The handover took place after nearly three years of NATO control of the facility, and over thirteen years of international presence at CAS. In addition to running everyday operations at CAS, the Macedonian military now will provide logistical support to KFOR, which was previously provided by NATO. CAS has been a logistical base for NATO and UN operations in Kosovo since 1999, and has supported all transportation of KFOR personnel or goods through Macedonia, including support for the U.S.-run Camp Bondsteel. ¶2. (U) The formal handover ceremony on June 7 marked the end of a year-long draw down at NATO HQs in Skopje. NATO has reduced personnel in Macedonia, from over 150 to only 50 today. The smaller NATO HQs will continue to support the GOM on NATO-related reforms from offices within the Macedonian Ministry of Defense. ¶3. (U) COMMENT: The handover of CAS operations and logistical support for KFOR to the Macedonian military reflects improvements in the military's capabilities and performance in recent years. The smooth transition process during the NATO HQs draw down, and the assumption of all KFOR logistical support out of CAS, is a vote of confidence in the Macedonian military's ability to successfully work with and support NATO and international forces. MILOVANOVIC