Ceku announces Kosovo's armed forces

Agim Ceku says Kosovo will soon form its own armed forces "that will be concentrated on internal security". This former Croatian army general and one of the leaders of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, told Jagodina's Palma Plus television in an interview that these forces will be "something in between army and police". Ceku announces Kosovo's armed forces Ceku, who also served as premier in the post-1999 Kosovo, added that commander and headquarters of this formation will be known shortly, while its members will be recruited starting Jan. 5, 2009. According to him, the force will number 2,500 active members and 800 reserves. "NATO has taken it upon itself to monitor these forces, but also to set them up. The security forces of Kosovo will not be a threat to anyone, they will be tasked with protecting the internal safety of people and property in Kosovo. I expect the Serbs to sign up, too," Ceku said. He also ruled out his own participation in this formation. Ceku, who now heads the opposition Social-Democratic Party, addressed the issue of an ongoing human organ trafficking probe, to reject accusations against Kosovo Albanians, and say that he "does not believe there are people who would do something like that". "These are heavy accusations and it is in the interest of the Albanians that they are cleared up as soon as possible," Ceku said. The Serbian War Crimes Prosecution is investigating reports that hundreds of Kosovo Serb civilians were kidnapped by Kosovo Albanians after the 1999 war, to have their vital organs removed and sold in the black market. Agim Ceku (FoNet, archive)

Ceku announces Kosovo's armed forces

Ceku, who also served as premier in the post-1999 Kosovo, added that commander and headquarters of this formation will be known shortly, while its members will be recruited starting Jan. 5, 2009.

According to him, the force will number 2,500 active members and 800 reserves.

"NATO has taken it upon itself to monitor these forces, but also to set them up. The security forces of Kosovo will not be a threat to anyone, they will be tasked with protecting the internal safety of people and property in Kosovo. I expect the Serbs to sign up, too," Ceku said.

He also ruled out his own participation in this formation.

Ceku, who now heads the opposition Social-Democratic Party, addressed the issue of an ongoing human organ trafficking probe, to reject accusations against Kosovo Albanians, and say that he "does not believe there are people who would do something like that".

"These are heavy accusations and it is in the interest of the Albanians that they are cleared up as soon as possible," Ceku said.

The Serbian War Crimes Prosecution is investigating reports that hundreds of Kosovo Serb civilians were kidnapped by Kosovo Albanians after the 1999 war, to have their vital organs removed and sold in the black market.