Brussels, 03/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - NATO is to increase its presence in Kosovo after last week's violence around the border with Serbia. “I can confirm that the activation order for the use of the KFOR operational reserve was issued today”, said NATO spokesperson Carmen Romero on Tuesday 2 August. The NATO mission in Kosovo (KFOR), which currently consists of nearly 6300 soldiers from 31 States (23 of which are NATO members) will see its presence increased in the next few days, by nearly 550 German and 150 Austrian soldiers. These reinforcements are being brought in further to the violence which erupted on Friday 25 July between the Serbian population of North Kosovo and the Albanian-speaking police forces sent by Pristina to take control of the border post. The border post of Jarinje was set alight and a KFOR convoy was forced to withdraw, as Kosovo Serbs had blocked several crossing points. The NATO spokesperson went on to say that “NATO is not taking sides in this crisis, we remain neutral”. She said that “these deployments should not be seen as a sign of escalation”, they are being sent to “relieve the forces currently on the ground”. Additionally, she added, “the situation has calmed down”. (J.K.)