Moldova To Deploy 11th Peacekeeping Contingent To Kosovo On June 9 - Defense Minister

Moldova plans to deploy its 11th peacekeeping contingent to the NATO-led mission in Kosovo on June 9, Moldovan Defense Minister Eugeniu Sturza said Monday

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd June, 2019) Moldova plans to deploy its 11th peacekeeping contingent to the NATO-led mission in Kosovo on June 9, Moldovan Defense Minister Eugeniu Sturza said Monday,

The contingent will comprise 33 soldiers, seven engineers and an officer, and will be based at Camp Vilaggio Italia in Kosovo's Pech for six months.

"This operation is an opportunity to honorably represent [Moldova] and its national army, to which we are trying to return prestige. Without your help, our efforts here in the [Moldovan Defense] Ministry, would be futile," Sturza told the soon-to-be-deployed peacekeepers at a formal ceremony.

The defense minister thanked Italy and the United States for providing training and logistical support for members of the mission in the politically unstable region.

Moldovan peacekeepers have participated in the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission since March 2014.

Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, after years of conflict. The self-proclaimed republic is recognized by over 100 UN member states. Serbia, Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Spain, Greece and a number of other countries continue to not recognize Kosovar independence.