Estonian unit still patrolling in Mitrovica, Kosovo

Patrolling in its area of responsibility, ESTRIF-3 also guards a bridge linking northern and southern Mitrovica. According to the defense forces headquarters there have been no incidents in the area of responsibility of the platoon.

The area of responsibility of ESTRIF-3 includes two boroughs of Mitrovica, one of them mostly inhabited by Albanians and the other overwhelmingly by Roma people. The main duty of the Estonian platoon is to communicate with different ethnic groups and collect information.

There have been peaceful demonstrations in Mitrovica almost every day since the proclamation of independence.

The northern bank of the River Ibar running through Mitrovica has a settlement of about 20,000 Serbs with 80,000 Albanians living on the south bank.

Immediately after the proclamation of Kosovo's independence ESTRIF-3 manned a checkpoint between Kosovo and Serbia on the bank of the Gasivode reservoir north of Mitrovica.

The 26-strong Estonian unit in Kosovo serving under Danish battalion command was set up on the basis of the Estonian paramilitary Defense League.

Men of the Estonian defense forces have been taking part in the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Kosovo since end 1999.