New Kosova Report

KFOR, KPS Independence Plan

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Kosovo Police Service

PRISHTINA - Kosovo Police Service (KPS) and the NATO peackeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR), both would be ready for the Kosovo parliament to "announce independence immediately."
KPS and KFOR have made plans, working out all possibilities and potential problems following Kosovo's independence.

Both the police and KFOR have special plans mapped out for every possibile outcome and potential worsening of the security situation.

The plan, which is called Operation Status, is intended to maintain public order in case of any escalation in tension, and prevent potential security threats.

KPS expects that Serbs within its ranks in North Kosovo will leave as soon as independence is proclaimed. In response, KFOR plans that about 500 international police officers will take over the police stations in the north.

It has been agreed that KPS will respond to any minor incidents and that KFOR will tackle more serious conflicts or incidents, regardless of whether Albanians or Serbs are involved.

If Serbs in northern Kosovo proclaim secession from the rest of Kosovo, KFOR would take control of the border between Serbia and Kosovo.

On Monday, the leaders of Kosovo's main institutions met to discuss the next steps in coordinating the planned declaration of independence with the EU and US.

“It is a matter of days”, President, Fatmir Sejdiu told media, referring to the act by which the Assembly will declare the disputed territory independent from Serbia.