Kosovo set for "new security forces"

Kosovo's security forces will start on Jan, 21, almost a year after Kosovo Albanians unilaterally declared independence, it has been confirmed.

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Saturday, 17.01.2009.

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Kosovo's security forces will start on Jan, 21, almost a year after Kosovo Albanians unilaterally declared independence, it has been confirmed. The core of the forces, expected to have 2,500 members and 500 reserves, will come from the former so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. Kosovo set for "new security forces" Kosovo's Protection Corps will be deactivated a day before. The security forces minister in the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina confirmed this yesterday in a news conference. Fehmi Mujota also said that the new formations' members will wear new uniforms – a U.S. government donation – all will be stationed is seven towns: Pristina, Urosevac, Prizren, Kosovska Mitrovica, Pec, Gnjilane, and Pomazatin. Mujota also said that it was decided that "one of his two deputies should be a Serb". Meanwhile State Secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic says he doubts there will be any Serbs, "especially anyone significant politically" in these security forces, since Serbs see them as a fresh threat. "Speaking from experience, I am almost certain that it will be very difficult to control these armed forces. The Serb community's position will depend on how strictly NATO monitors their behavior and makes sure that they in no way look like any kind of an army," he said, and added he was "afraid that the fear of the new threat might lead to Serbs moving out, closing in in their own circles, having less communication with Albanians". All this, according to Ivanovic, means new instability in the long term, and "even less understanding between the two largest ethnic communities in Kosovo". Even as UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal was debate in 2007, Belgrade and Pristina expressed serious differences over the proposed security forces. The Serbian authorities saw it as the beginning of a Kosovo army, and suggested that the province be demilitarized. Serbia and Russia continue with strong objections to the establishment of the forces. They have been joined in this criticism by those NATO member-states that have not recognized the unilateral secession, Spain above all.

Kosovo set for "new security forces"

Kosovo's Protection Corps will be deactivated a day before. The security forces minister in the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština confirmed this yesterday in a news conference.

Fehmi Mujota also said that the new formations' members will wear new uniforms – a U.S. government donation – all will be stationed is seven towns: Priština, Uroševac, Prizren, Kosovska Mitrovica, Peć, Gnjilane, and Pomazatin.

Mujota also said that it was decided that "one of his two deputies should be a Serb".

Meanwhile State Secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo Oliver Ivanović says he doubts there will be any Serbs, "especially anyone significant politically" in these security forces, since Serbs see them as a fresh threat.

"Speaking from experience, I am almost certain that it will be very difficult to control these armed forces. The Serb community's position will depend on how strictly NATO monitors their behavior and makes sure that they in no way look like any kind of an army," he said, and added he was "afraid that the fear of the new threat might lead to Serbs moving out, closing in in their own circles, having less communication with Albanians".

All this, according to Ivanović, means new instability in the long term, and "even less understanding between the two largest ethnic communities in Kosovo".

Even as UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal was debate in 2007, Belgrade and Priština expressed serious differences over the proposed security forces. The Serbian authorities saw it as the beginning of a Kosovo army, and suggested that the province be demilitarized.

Serbia and Russia continue with strong objections to the establishment of the forces. They have been joined in this criticism by those NATO member-states that have not recognized the unilateral secession, Spain above all.

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