KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE ACHIEVES INITIAL OPERATING

UNCLAS USNATO 000399 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP NATO MOPS MARR PREL PGOV KV SUBJECT: KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE ACHIEVES INITIAL OPERATING CAPABILITY REF: SG(2009)0804 ¶1. (SBU) On September 17, NATO Secretary General Rasmussen distributed to Allies a September 15 letter from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Admiral Stavridis informing Rasmussen that the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) had attained Initial Operating Capability (IOC) on September 15. Stavridis said in his letter that this designation had been made based on the recommendation of both the Commander of KFOR and the Commander of JFC Naples after the KSF had demonstrated the necessary capabilities during the August 31 to September 4 Validation Exercise AGILE LION. ¶2. (SBU) In his letter, SACEUR said that "(t)his is clearly an important milestone for the KSF and reflects very well on the determination and professionalism that they have shown thus far in their development," adding that the attainment of IOC "highlights the outstanding role that NATO has played in bringing the KSF to this point." At the same time, SACEUR also stressed that "the attainment of this significant step does not mark the end of the road, and we have already turned our attention to the next stages in the evolution of the force." He said that this would "continue to demand our full engagement". DAALDER