By IRNA,
Berlin : German legislators here Thursday approved extending the military mission in Kosovo for a 10th consecutive year.
Some 499 lawmakers voted for the mandate, 57 MPs opposed and three abstained.
The Left faction cast their ballots against the mission in Kosovo.
While there are presently 2,870 German soldiers deployed in Kosovo as part of the NATO-led KFOR mission, the German parliamentary mandate allows the stationing of up to 8,500 troops in the former Serbian province.
The NATO force is assigned to prevent further fighting between ethnic Albanians and Serbs and protect the development of a multi-ethnic administration.
Last month, the German cabinet gave green light to a one-year renewal of the military mission in Kosovo.
The German deployment in Kosovo began in June 1999.
Berlin extended official recognition to Kosovo on February 20.