KOSOVO, May 19 (AVN) - Recently appointed KFOR Commander General Juan Ortuno visited the Russian military contingent 14th tactical group commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Yury Lozovsky, a source in the contingent headquarters in Slatina told the Military News Agency.
Ortuno surveyed the group's base area, a monastery in the French North sector of the city, observed the peculiarities of service and tasks of the Russian peacekeepers in their responsibility zone, visited one of the control posts.
The presence of the Russian military contingent as part of the international peacekeeping forces is a necessary condition for stability in Kosovo, Ortuno said.
The units of the contingent have been performing peacekeeping tasks in four out of five Kosovo sectors since July 10, 1999. The total area of contingent's responsibility zone makes 1,500 sq. km, the length of the control zone is 314 km.