More Ukrainian Peacemakers in Kosovo

Ukraine and Poland intend to enlarge the Polish-Ukrainian battalion. This agreement was made during negotiations in Warsaw between Polish and Ukrainian Defense Ministers Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Volodymyr Shkidchenko. According to Deutsche Welle information, the defense department heads discussed extending cooperation in the army’s reconstruction and modernization, intensifying cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, and also military relations within the Canada-Ukraine-Poland, Great Britain-Ukraine-Poland, and the US- Ukraine-Poland triangles. Early last week President Aleksandr Kwasniewski and Minister of National Defense Jerzy Szmajdzinski of Poland decorated the commanders of the Ukrainian and Polish regiments of the Ukrpolbat peacemaking battalion with the award of the General Headquarters of Polish Army for their substantial contribution to the peace process in Kosovo. In addition, the Polish leadership awarded an honorary diploma and decoration of the Ministry of National Defense of Poland to the First Special Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since July 15, 2000 327 members of this regiment have taken part in helping establish a peaceful life in Kosovo as a part of the KFOR forces. In this uneasy region Ukrainian peacemakers carry out important tasks, overseeing and supporting the safety of transportation, along with preventing the transport of illegal arms, explosives, and drugs. They also escort Kosovo children to schools and convoy people through danger zones. In addition, Ukrainians take part in other tasks that might arise such as extraordinary convoys and extending medical and humanitarian aid to the local population.