North Dakota in Kosovo

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A peacekeeping force in Kosovo will be

getting smaller, but North Dakota Rep. Earl Pomeroy says that's not

likely to shorten the deployment of the North Dakota National Guard

soldiers there.

More than 600 North Dakota soldiers are part of a NATO

contingent in Kosovo. Pomeroy visited the Balkans region in eastern

Europe last week.

He says the North Dakota Guard's leadership is as well-informed

about local conditions as the State Department. Pomeroy says the

North Dakotans do security patrols and visit people in Kosovo

communities.

Pomeroy says the NATO force is being reduced and more

responsibility is being turned over to local police. He says

conditions are largely quiet, but he says the presence of the

soldiers keeps it that way.

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