Scheffer: Kosovo won't have army

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced yesterday in Pristina that the new Kosovo Security Force, rather than being an army, will have "specific duties". "NATO will lead the transformation of the current Kosovo Protection Corps and the creation of the Kosovo Security Force, which will have 2,500 members and some 800 reserve members with specific duties," he said. Scheffer: Kosovo won't have army De Hoop Scheffer explained that the personnel decision came from NATO and added that he believed the force under the mandate of KFOR "will be multiethnic". "KFOR is here; it's here to stay. KFOR has a mandate and the necessary troops, and, if necessary, KFOR has reinforcements," the NATO chief said. De Hoop Scheffer said NATO-led peacekeeping forces in Kosovo would continue to work within their powers as defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Scheffer: Kosovo won't have army

De Hoop Scheffer explained that the personnel decision came from NATO and added that he believed the force under the mandate of KFOR "will be multiethnic".

"KFOR is here; it's here to stay. KFOR has a mandate and the necessary troops, and, if necessary, KFOR has reinforcements," the NATO chief said.

De Hoop Scheffer said NATO-led peacekeeping forces in Kosovo would continue to work within their powers as defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1244.