Gates Pledges Weapons, Aid For Kosovo Security Force
by Kristin Roberts and Fatos Bytyci
The United States will keep troops in the NATO peacekeeping operation in Kosovo until at least late 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday.
Gates, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Kosovo since it declared independence, pledged to help build Kosovo's security forces by providing equipment and training.
"We got confirmation that the U.S. administration will support the building of the Kosovo security force," Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu told reporters.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia on February 17 in a move that had Western backing but was rejected by Serbia and its ally Russia.
The Pentagon chief met Kosovo's president and prime minister and discussed efforts to integrate minority communities and secure recognition for Kosovo's independence.
Some 47 countries have recognized Kosovo's independence, including the United States and most European Union countries. Sejdiu said he expected regional neighbors to recognize the independence declaration, including Montenegro and Macedonia.
"Very soon we will have new recognitions. A lot of countries are in the process of recognizing Kosovo," he said.
Serbian officials said that unless there are new talks on Kosovo's status, they might push for partition -- a plan Gates rejected. "I do not believe partition is a solution now or at any time in the future," he said. "The United States supports the territorial integrity of Kosovo
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