Slovak Defense Minister Juraj Liska and visiting Czech Defense Minister Karel Kuhnl decided to send hundreds of more troops to Kosovo, a province of Serbia, in 2006, the Czech news agency Ceteka reported Monday.

According to Ceteka reports from Bratislava, the Slovak capital, Kuhnl said his country would send another 200 troops to Kosovo, increasing the total to 600.

Kuhnl said that the Czech Republic will replace Finland to command the international peacekeepers in Kosovo (KFOR) this summer.

Liska said that Slovakia plans to increase troops in Kosovo in early 2006, but did not disclose the exact number.

Currently, about 100 Slovak and 400 Czech soldiers form a joint battalion to take part in the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

Source: Xinhua