SWISSCOY (Kosovo)

On 23 June 1999, the Federal Council made the fundamental decision that Switzerland should participate with military means in the Kosovo force KFOR on the basis of the UN resolution 1244. This was not intended to be an isolated measure, but part of an entire package to address in Switzerland the acute problem of refugees and displaced persons, to ensure immediate aid in Kosovo and to help stabilise the region.

The up to 220 volunteers from the armed forces, armed for self-defence with rifle or pistol, form an infantry and support company for the manoeuvre battalion in Dulje (Man Bn Dulje) under the name of SWISSCOY - for Swiss company. SWISSCOY is assigned to the manoeuvre battalion Dulje. Internal structures personnel and disciplinary issues are under Swiss control. Within the sector of the Multinational Task Force South (MNTF S) the German Bundeswehr stationed in the region of Prizren is in charge of SWISSCOY, but can be deployed throughout the entire Kosovo. The Austrian-Swiss Camp ‘Casablanca’ is located on the premises of a former rubber factory near Suva Reka (between Prizren and Pristina).

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