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Nato holds talks on Kosovo troops Nato to reduce troops in Kosovo
(about 11 hours later)
Nato is expected to agree a massive reduction in its troop numbers in Kosovo at a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels. Nato defence ministers have agreed to reduce the numbers of peacekeeping troops in Kosovo.
The alliance currently has about 14,000 peacekeepers in Kosovo, but is expected to agree to reduce the force to about 10,000 by January next year. The alliance is to cut its operation from around 14,000 troops now to 10,000 over the coming months, officials said.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia last year and commanders believe the area is now relatively stable. Numbers could fall to about 2,500 personnel over two years if the right security conditions are in place.
The move follows a Nato review which concluded that the situation in Kosovo was sufficiently safe after it declared independence from Serbia last year.
The force, known as Kfor, has been in Kosovo for 10 years.The force, known as Kfor, has been in Kosovo for 10 years.
It was deployed after a Nato air campaign against Serbia. It was deployed following a Nato air campaign against Serbia to stop a crackdown on separatist ethnic Albanians.
Alliance Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the reduction would happen in a "phased manner, and each step will be decided by the North Atlantic Council (of Nato nations) based on military advice".
He said the alliance had yet to set a firm date for the cut, but added: "That date might well be January 1" 2010.
Correspondents say that as tensions in Kosovo have eased, the alliance is under pressure to re-deploy troops to places like Afghanistan.
But Mr Scheffer stressed they are not abandoning Kosovo.
"Kfor will remain in Kosovo, it will remain responsible for a safe and secure environment," he told reporters after chairing the meeting.
A vocal minority of ethnic Serbs - backed by Moscow and Belgrade - continues to oppose Kosovo's independence.A vocal minority of ethnic Serbs - backed by Moscow and Belgrade - continues to oppose Kosovo's independence.
But the fledgling state, made up mainly of ethnic Albanians, has strong backing from the US, and its independent status has been recognised by most EU countries.But the fledgling state, made up mainly of ethnic Albanians, has strong backing from the US, and its independent status has been recognised by most EU countries.
"Kfor is looking to shift to the next phase of operations to a deterrence presence," a US official told reporters earlier this week.
He said the alliance had concluded that the security situation allowed for the reduction.
The Nato defence ministers are also expected to announce a beefed up command structure for Afghanistan.