MACEDONIA: KOSOVO: GERMANS ARRIVE AT THE BORDER UPDATE

Описание: (12 Jun 1999) Natural Sound

German army units, taking part in NATO's largest military operation in Europe since the Second World War, crossed the border into Kosovo from Macedonia on Saturday.

It is the first deployment of German troops in strength since the end of the war.

Some 5-thousand heavily armed German troops are expected to go into southern Kosovo from both Macedonia and Albania.

Along with Dutch units, the Germans will be headquartered in the main southern Kosovo town of Prizren.

Germany's armour in Kosovo includes 28 Leopard II main battle tanks seeing their first combat duty.

Two types of armoured personnel carriers already used by German peacekeepers in Bosnia will also be deployed.

The deployment came after Germany's parliament on Friday overwhelmingly approved sending 85-hundred German peacekeepers to Kosovo.

The vote came a day after the United Nations authorized a 50-thousand strong international peace force for Kosovo.

The movements are part of the build up for "Operation Joint Guardian."

British and French troops are spearheading the initial NATO thrust, with German, U-S and Italian forces moving in later.

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