June saw the significant milestone of the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo and the deployment of the NATO peace-support force, KFOR. For a quarter of a century, British forces have been dedicated to supporting peace and stability in Kosovo. We marked that unwavering service with a special event at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 23 June.
Amidst the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, fighting broke out between Serbian and Kosovar Albanian forces in the late 1990s. Despite diplomatic efforts by the international community, the conflict intensified, which included a campaign by Serbian authorities towards Kosovar Albanian civilians, forcing hundreds of thousands of men, women and children from their homes. Those actions ultimately prompted NATO's military intervention to halt the humanitarian crisis. In June 1999, the Serbian administration agreed to withdraw their forces from Kosovo, and NATO peacekeepers entered the country unopposed.
Around 4,000 British troops were deployed as part of that 50,000 strong multinational force. For the last 25 years, the UK has continued in this vital role, contributing personnel to KFOR to serve alongside others from partner countries. Securing peace comes in many forms, each requiring skill and dedication: duties have included assisting in the return of refugees, removing mines and unexploded munitions, deterring hostilities between opposing parties, supporting civilian institutions and helping maintain law and order.
Within the Armed Forces Memorial at the Arboretum on Sunday 23 June, we held an event for veterans and their families, and currently serving personnel, who have been deployed to Kosovo. Through words and music, we remembered and gave thanks for their service and sacrifice. The British Army Band Catterick provided the music, and former personnel from each of the services recounted their memories of supporting the peace in Kosovo and the extraordinarily wide-ranging duties of British personnel. In attendance was the Kosovar Ambassador and the Kosovar Defence Attache.
Among those speaking was former Royal Marine Commando Harris Tatakis who, in 1999, had just passed out and was on his first operational deployment. Said Harris: “I learned things that have stayed with me and have been useful in situations I found myself in later, on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan… British forces won hearts and minds in Kosovo; the experience of working with civilians made me a better Marine; and I feel we had saved a lot of lives and left Kosovo in a better place.”
If you have any questions, please contact the Remembrance Events Team at [email protected]