Friday, October 8, 1999 Published at 12:58 GMT 13:58 UK
New K-For leader looks to rebuild
Gen Reinhardt says his priority is a "safe and secure environment"
General Klaus Reinhardt has taken command of the K-For operation in Kosovo, the first time a German officer has commanded a Nato mission abroad.
The change of command is seen as the end of the first phase of the K-For operation.
Where Gen Jackson presided over a military expedition, Gen Reinhardt will focus on rebuilding civil society in a land devastated by war.
The situation on the ground will become increasingly harsh as winter approaches.
Gen Reinhardt said he did not agree with those people who said the problems of the Balkans were insoluble, and was prepared to "play tough" to end the continuing ethnic violence in Kosovo.
The change of command also completed the transfer of Nato headquarters staff, with troops from Gen Reinhardt's Land Forces Central Europe division replacing Gen Jackson's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
At the handover ceremony, Nato's Supreme Commander, General Wesley Clark, paid tribute to Gen Jackson, saying he had done his mission extremely well.
On the eve of his departure, Gen Jackson told the BBC: "We have achieved what we set out to do. Kovoso is now a very different place indeed."
Looking back at the start of his tour of duty, Gen Jackson said that the first achievement had been to get his troops into Kosovo, following Nato's air campaign.
He had to overcome an early setback, when Russian troops from Bosnia beat Nato forces to Pristina airport, as part of a dispute over K-For's command structure.
"It is unrealistic to expect everyone to be tolerant and forgiving in one day," he said.
"There are still too many incidents of crime based on ethnic hatred."
He said people were paying more attention to political solutions, which was important because the military could do little without a political will for change.
He said that setting up the force had been the best way to prevent armed elements going underground after the disarmament of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
Despite continuing problems in Kosovo, Gen Jackson said the fact that 800,000 people had been able to return home was a significant achievement in itself.
Gen Jackson also said it was vital that people were brought to justice for violence crimes.
Asked whether that would be possible, he said: "I very much hope so, because without that the job of reconciliation is much more difficult."