A statement from NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) says that Turkish troops will not be located in Camp Bondsteel near the southern Kosovo city of Urosevac, which was set up by U.S. forces after the war in Kosovo.

Camp Bondsteel will stay open, with KFOR soldiers and its current organization, says the statement.

The base's closing was announced earlier by U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell, who explained that the presence of U.S. troops in Kosovo and the base's maintenance were expensive.

The Franfurtske Vesti daily reported that the U.S. troops in the base would be replaced by Turkish soldiers.