Over 1,000 international OSCE verifiers in Kosovo

PRISTINA, 29 January 1999 - Today the number of international staff with the Kosovo Verification Mission passed another significant milestone when new arrivals brought the KVM strength to 1,020.

The build up of the mission continues steadily and new personnel arrive almost daily. All receive a four day induction course upon arrival and are then sent to their stations of duty in Kosovo: Either the Headquarters in Pristina, one of five regional centers, or one of a growing number of coordination centers and field offices throughout the region.

The largest contingents out of the total of 1020 are from the Contact Group members: The United States has 143 people here, the United Kingdom 104, Germany 102, Italy 93, France 80, and Russia 74. Norway, the country of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office follows with 61, the majority of whom form the backbone of the main KVM HQ in Pristina.