Nato cuts forces in 'safer' Balkans

The Bosnian Stabilisation Force will be cut most

Nato has said it will reduce its peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and Kosovo because of the "improving security environment".

Since we first sent forces to the Balkans much has changed and improved and we are changing with them

Nato Secretary General George Robertson

The alliance said Stabilisation Force (S-For) troops in Bosnia would be cut from 19,000 to 12,000 and K-For troops in Kosovo from 38,000 to 33,200 by the end of the year.

"These changes will help us build on success," said Nato Secretary General George Robertson in a statement accompanying the announcement.

"Since we first sent forces to the Balkans much has changed and improved and we are changing with them."

K-For polices the Kosovo-Macedonia border

Nato insisted that its remaining forces would remain "robust" and flexible, and would continue to deal with regional issues such as refugee flows, border security, rule of law and extremism.

"In light of the evolving security environment it is now appropriate to create lighter, more mobile and flexible forces, that will not only be more cost effective, but will also be able to meet current challenges effectively," a statement said.

In December, the United States Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, called for a large cut in troops deployed in the Balkans.

Some 3,000 US soldiers are serving with S-For, and there is also a large US contingent within K-For.

Falling numbers

S-For troop numbers have been gradually falling since the end of the Bosnian civil war, when 60,000 soldiers were deployed in the country.

In January the international community's high representative in Bosnia, Wolfgang Petritsch, told Nato it should maintain its military presence.

"We have not yet reached the point of no return where Bosnia-Hercegovina would truly be a viable state that could stand alone," he told Nato ambassadors in Brussels.