Turkish Major General Özkan Ulutaş over command of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission to Italian Major General Roberto Vergori at a ceremony held at KFOR Headquarters in Pristina, a press release said on Wednesday.
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It said that the ceremony was presided by the Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples Admiral George M. Wikoff with representatives of the Kosovo authorities and international community present.
This was Major General Ulutaş’ second term in command of KFRO – he commanded KFOR from October 2023 to October 2024 before assuming command again in 2025. He is the first Allied officer in KFOR’s history to have served two terms as Commander.
Ulutaş thanked all troop-contributing nations “for providing KFOR with its most essential strength: its dedicated personnel and forces.” He also praised the sub-unit commanders, his staff, KFOR’s soldiers and civilian employees “for their excellent services and professionalism,” adding that he was “immensely proud to have served alongside them, twice”.
Major General Vergori emphasised continuity after taking over command. “KFOR’s mission has not changed and neither has its dedication to all of the people living in Kosovo. We remain deeply committed to fulfilling our mandate, based on UNSCR 1244 of 1999, with one overarching goal in mind: to ensure that KFOR continues to play its part in creating the right conditions for a future in which new generations can enjoy the full benefits of lasting peace, democracy, and prosperity,” he added.
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