They were twice reinforced by a reserve company. Army commanders have said the contingent members coped well with all emergency situations. Commander Jiri David said the troops had experienced situations not encountered by previous contingents. "We had trained for all the events we experienced over the six months.
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Czechs hope relations with Serbia not to worsen over Kosovo ... proclamation of the constitution, these were the milestones for Kosovo and the whole contingent. These were the two most important events that occurred during the six months," David said. The soldiers used the services of chaplain Vladimir Hudousek, who said they had turned to him especially in difficult moments. "Partnership and family relationships were in the first place as their friends and spouses often abandoned them. This was the main theme of our meetings and of my help," Hudousek said. KFOR troops rotate in the missions after six months. Members of the latest unit were replaced with soldiers from the 132nd mixed artillery unit in Jince, Central Bohemia, who were flown to the Balkans in mid-July. Czech soldiers have been at the Sajkovac base since 1999 under a decision of the Chamber of Deputies. From August 1, they have been under the Finnish command along with the Irish, Swedish, Slovak and Latvian units. The command changes after a year. Four dozen countries, such as the USA and 20 EU member states, including the Czech Republic, have recognised the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, declared on February 18. The Czech Republic recognised Kosovo in May and opened its embassy there on July 16. It is now headed by charge d'affaires Janina Hrebickova.
(Ceske Noviny)
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