Today, these programmes are being coordinated under PfP with NATO and with other nations. The experience gained has been very positive. As hundreds of thousands of people started fleeing Kosovo, Switzerland launched bilateral humanitarian assistance programmes in the region. Support was also given to victims of the armed conflict in Serbia. Previous experience gained through PfP proved most helpful.
Domestic legislation prohibits the Swiss government from sending armed units abroad.
About 140 Swiss soldiers are now deployed in Kosovo. In the meantime, a public debate has started in Switzerland as to whether this prohibition against sending armed troops abroad should be lifted, as well as other legal obstacles hampering international cooperation. Preparing missions together Careful preparation is the key to successful military cooperation. The experience gained during operations like SFOR, AFOR and KFOR becomes the driving force for further development of both the Partnership as a whole and individual countries' Partnership programmes. This results in more challenging exercises, more effective training and additional efforts to increase interoperability.