Kosovo security forces to become operative

The Kosovo Protection Corps will cease to exist on Tuesday and will be replaced by the Kosovo security forces. The new forces have 2,500 active members and 800 reservists. Apart from chief commander Sulejman Selimi, it is not yet known who will make up the chain of command. Kosovo security forces to become operative The Pristina media have announced that all generals will remain in the forces, apart from Kosovo Guard commander Nuredin Lushtaku, who has allegedly refused to be part of the Kosovo Security Forces. At the same time, Lushtaku's move is said to have been forced, because complaints about his work had been coming not only from his superiors, but also from representatives of the international community, with whose backing and consent the new forces are being put together. Late last week, a news release said that in the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Forces, which is in charge of the forces, would be a member of the Serb community. "The Kosovo government wants one of the two deputy ministers for the Kosovo Security Forces to be from the Serb community. We believe the prime minister will appoint that deputy minister when the representatives of Serb parliamentary parties submit their proposal," Minister Fahmi Mujota said. Mujota added that the interest of minority members in involvement in the Kosovo Security Forces was satisfactory and that the projected 10 percent of members from minority communities would be achieved. The members of the Kosovo Security Forces will receive their new uniforms from the U.S., vehicles from Germany, and will be trained by British army officers. Training will begin on February 2 in Vucitrn. Pristina media say that the majority of the future formation’s members, some 1,300 of them, will come over from the Protection Corps. The other places will be filled through a regular competition open to all Kosovo’s residents. In terms of armament, the Pristina press writes, all members of the security forces will carry a pistol, “though unloaded in the majority of cases.” The Kosovo Serbs do not approve of the formation of such armed units, claiming that this will further aggravate the security situation in the province. Nor are the Serbs comforted by the fact that NATO will have a key role in the formation of these forces.

Kosovo security forces to become operative

The Priština media have announced that all generals will remain in the forces, apart from Kosovo Guard commander Nuredin Lushtaku, who has allegedly refused to be part of the Kosovo Security Forces.

At the same time, Lushtaku's move is said to have been forced, because complaints about his work had been coming not only from his superiors, but also from representatives of the international community, with whose backing and consent the new forces are being put together.

Late last week, a news release said that in the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Forces, which is in charge of the forces, would be a member of the Serb community.

"The Kosovo government wants one of the two deputy ministers for the Kosovo Security Forces to be from the Serb community. We believe the prime minister will appoint that deputy minister when the representatives of Serb parliamentary parties submit their proposal," Minister Fahmi Mujota said.

Mujota added that the interest of minority members in involvement in the Kosovo Security Forces was satisfactory and that the projected 10 percent of members from minority communities would be achieved.

The members of the Kosovo Security Forces will receive their new uniforms from the U.S., vehicles from Germany, and will be trained by British army officers. Training will begin on February 2 in Vučitrn.

Priština media say that the majority of the future formation’s members, some 1,300 of them, will come over from the Protection Corps.

The other places will be filled through a regular competition open to all Kosovo’s residents.

In terms of armament, the Priština press writes, all members of the security forces will carry a pistol, “though unloaded in the majority of cases.”

The Kosovo Serbs do not approve of the formation of such armed units, claiming that this will further aggravate the security situation in the province.

Nor are the Serbs comforted by the fact that NATO will have a key role in the formation of these forces.