Austrian General assumes command of Multinational Task Force South for the first time.

Multimedia High resolution photos of the event

On May 29, Austrian Brigadier General Robert Prader assumed command of Multinational Task Force South (MNTF S) in Prizren, Kosovo.  It’s the first time an Austrian General Officer has commanded one of the brigade-sized task forces in KFOR. Prader, who commands 4000 soldiers from five different nations, replaced Brigadier General Tarcin Ugor.

Since joining the UN more than 50 years ago Austria, a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Member Country, has been supporting peacekeeping operations. The country’s first contribution was providing a field hospital during a UN mission in the former Belgian Congo in 1960. Since then approximately 60,000 soldiers have served in 70 peacekeeping missions.

“In these uncertain times, communication and dialogue are critical to maintaining the safe and secure environment because without it, we will be unable to influence the behavior and reaction of the people (and their leaders) to events going on around them,” said KFOR Commander Lieutenant General Xavier de Marnhac during the change of command ceremony. “It is now up to you to take the lead, as MNTF South moves forward, operating in this crucial time of utmost importance and interest for the international community and for all the people of Kosovo.”

Austria currently has the largest contingent of the eight Non-NATO-nations within KFOR.