BELGRADE, Serbia

American Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Garffer on Thursday assumed office as NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) chief of staff.

Garffer took over from fellow US Army Brigadier General John Bozicevic at a ceremony at KFOR headquarters in the capital Pristina.

"It has been a privilege to serve in NATO’s longest mission in the history of the Atlantic Alliance," said Bozicevic.

The mission's Turkish commander, Maj. Gen. Ozkan Ulutas, said that Bozicevic was a cornerstone for KFOR and his dedication and professionalism were invaluable.

"Brigadier General John Bozicevic has been a cornerstone of KFOR’s daily activities. His dedication and professionalism have been invaluable to our mission," said Ulutas.

He added that Garffer brings a wealth of experience which will be vital to the mission in future as it continues to provide security to the population of Kosovo.

The regular change in KFOR comes at a time when tensions in Kosovo's north are high.

NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo is in charge of the country's security.

The mission has more than 4,500 military personnel from 27 countries, including 21 NATO members and six non-NATO partner countries.

Turkish troops serving in the mission continue to patrol the border region between Kosovo and Serbia to ensure security.

Very often, photos of their patrolling activity have been shared on KFOR's social media account.

KFOR troops were deployed in Kosovo on June 12, 1999 following a decision by the UN Security Council to ensure security and stability.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by many countries, including Türkiye. But Belgrade has never recognized Kosovo and claims it is still part of neighboring Serbia.