One may wonder what kind of future Kosovo status chief negotiator Marti Ahtisaari saw in Kosovo and in the Balkans when declaring that Kosovo should be taken away from an enraged Serbia, while at the same time restricting Kosovo from raising a proper army. According to the status proposal made by chief negotiator Marti Ahtisaari, which is the blueprint of the independent Kosovar state, the following is stated about the defense of Kosovo:
- A new professional and multi-ethnic Kosovo Security Force (KFS) will be established.
- The KSF will have a maximum of 2,500 active members and 800 reserve members, without heavy weapons. Members of the KSF will be recruited from across Kosovo through a formal selection process developed jointly by Kosovo and the International Military Presence (IMP)
- The KSF will initially be primarily responsible for crisis response, explosive ordinance disposal, and civil protection.
- The KSF will be designed and prepared to fulfill other security functions, not appropriate for the police or other law enforcement organizations. The IMP, in coordination with the International Community Representative (ICR), will decide when to authorize the KSF to engage in these new security functions.
- The current Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), having accomplished its goals, including the facilitation of Kosovo’s post-conflict recovery, will be dissolved within one year after the end of the transition period. The International Community will develop a Demobilization and Reintegration process for the KPC retirees.
However, things haven’t developed just like President Ahtisaari and other diplomats had hoped. Serbia and Russia have criticized the Ahtisaari package and Moscow as a vetoing member of the UN Security Council has not signed up to his conclusions. This brought the whole decision making process outside the UN and to even more uncertainty. The problems however don’t end there.
The Serbian parliament is still dominated by the nationalist-ultranationalist force which has been actively involved in the rioting in northern Kosovo despite the presence of NATO forces there. By most accounts Serbia is gearing up for a drawn out battle with Kosovo and the international community over what it fervently considers its own territory. Under this situation, it’s hard to imagine that NATO will be able to provide the long-term defense that Kosovo needs. The yearly cost of KFOR troops is high, and extremely high for some countries with tradionally low military budgets or overstretched by Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the biggest contributors of soldiers is Sweden. During spring 2007 the Swedish media anticipated a withdrawal of a big number of forces due to the extensive cost. However tensions related to the extended status negotiations forced the Swedish government to maintain its force at the price of severe internal criticism.
It is for this reason that the short-term solution that Ahtisaari and the international community have chosen for the defense of Kosovo is not sustainable. A much more sustainable and long-term solution to the problem would have been to make Kosovo independent defensively as well. This is where a real Kosovar army comes in. Such an army would secure Kosovo from all internal and external threats as well as serve as a regional stabilization force.
Limiting the force to 2,500 soldiers, without heavy defense weapons, is practically leaving Kosovo with a handicapped defense force. Comparable to the defense force of the island state of Malta which has 2,140 active soldiers, this number would make the Kosovar defense force the third smallest on the continent. What is even more questionable is the fact that Kosovo will not be allowed to maintain heavy defense armaments, but concentrate on light weapons such as automatic rifles for the active force.
While Ahtisaari plan prescribes for the International Community to develop a Demobilization and Reintegration process for the KPC retirees, the force will be completely disbanded, and in the best case scenario that all of them are invited back in, some 1,700 of the current 5,000 plus KPC members will be left out. In a situation like this, one wishes that NATO really does a do a good job of reintegration of the people fiercely proud of the role that they have played in Kosovo’s recent military history and in possession of the military training to ruffle a few feathers.
A Kosovar army would not only serve as a strictly defense force of Kosovo, it would also be a symbol of a unification of Kosovo. As the report from the International Crisis Group (ICG), An Army for Kosovo, states: “If managed well, an army can help develop a stable, multi-ethnic or at least ethnically neutral, identity for the new state. Fashioning a united, representative and professional army for a state deeply divided between the Albanian majority and the rejectionist Serb minority requires a careful choice of building blocks.”
The report adds: “Some will argue that with KFOR there, a poor and divided place like Kosovo does not need its own military, but full demilitarization is impracticable. There is insufficient trust to sustain it. It would become a façade, behind which unofficial paramilitary groups would coalesce, making the new state – and its neighbors – less rather than more secure, and less amenable to the rule of law. [However,] a small official army, developed under NATO oversight, is the most appropriate tool, both to prompt the gradual demilitarization of society and to enable Kosovo’s entry into regional collective security arrangements, which are the key to sustainable demilitarization and security.”
The report goes on to recommend that as soon as Kosovo joins NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, its defense limitations should cease to exist allowing the state to defend itself with a larger number of soldiers and heavy defense arms such as tanks and artillery.
Given the unpredictable political situation in Serbia, which unfortunately may go the radical way in the near future, as well as the extreme need to secure Kosovo on a long-term basis, it becomes clear that securing an effective army for Kosovo is the ground pillar to internal and external stability of Kosovo and the Balkans.
It is also of great interest to note that Kosovo Protection Corps has been the only institution in Kosovo which managed to fulfill all of its standards set by the international community as conditions for final status consideration. KPC, while carrying some blame for failing to control the involvement of its individual members with their Albanian ethnic kin in the conflicts in western Macedonia and the Presheva Valley in southern Serbia in 2000 and 2001, has played a largely pacifying role since then working with all communities in reconstruction and peace building projects. KPC is also the most trusted institution in Kosovo. With some 8% of the force consisting of minorities, the numbers roughly represent the actual population distribution except for Serbs who are underrepresented.
Critics claim that Kosovo isn’t ready financially to maintain a larger defense force than the one recommended by the Ahtisaari package, which is exactly where the financial problems of the KFOR nations are linked with those of Kosovo. By securing funds for the development of the internal defense force of Kosovo, the KFOR nations themselves will build a long term replacement and may therefore after a certain period of time withdraw their forces while handing over control to Kosovo’s forces. Kosovo army could be able to participate in the support of peacekeeping operations in other areas of the world, as KPC commanders have already suggested, at a fraction of the cost that their NATO counterparts now incur and further justifying the expenses made for the upkeep of this force during peacetime.
Others claim that a Kosovar army might be seen as a threat to its neighbors, which is a ridiculous claim considering the size of Kosovo. Kosovo can never, and must never be seen as a threat to any of its neighbors. Macedonia will in a very short period of time be a full member of NATO; Albania likewise. Kosovo is also in no position to threaten Serbia considering the huge disparity in military power between the two states. Kosovo can never be seen as a threat to anyone, with the exception of the threat to its own internal domestic security which a weak defense force entails.
The only way to a long-term stable solution to the security sector in Kosovo is without a doubt a multi-ethnic defense army, trained and equipped by NATO. After a period of supervision, the defense force would be able to transform into a primary security force totally responsible for the defense of the new country. In the near future, joining PfP and later NATO itself would sustain its professionalism and development into a modern force for the defense of Kosovo and the stability of the Balkans - without a doubt a common interest to all concerned.
salihshala [at] newkosovareport.com
arianit [at] newkosovareport.com
Kreshnik
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... Serggio the biggest reason that it Serbia didnt mobilize its forces against Slovenia was because Slovenia had Germany's support and they quickly realized that Germany was gonna get involved in that conflict so that conflict was solved pretty fast. And even if what i wrote on my last comment isnt 100% accurate its at least 98% accurate and thats good enough for me if we compare what Spasoje Markovic and other serbs write on these kind of sites witch is 90% bullshit and Serb propaganda. And thank you for that recomendation maybe i will take a lessen in Slovenian history. Take care! |
Luani
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... Again, it never fails to impress me the way Serbs label Albanians as "terrorists" and "thugs". There's always that say, "look at your self, before talking about someone ells", this can be clearly used at this moment. Also, someone just made good point that Serbs do have this thing in them, which is to label everyone who is against them as "terrorists". Serbia is a failed state, which lives in denial together with the majority of the Serbs, I'm hoping that Serbs soon face the reality, wake up and accept that Kosovo will never be, just like it never was ruled by Serbia. I would like to show my appreciation to the two authors, Salih Shala and Arianit Dobroshi, on a very well written article and clearly made point. Kosovo needs an Army, not a 2,500 Security Force. |
Blerina
said:
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... There is an urgent need to accelerate the formation of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) i.e to shorten the procedure of transition of KPC from its current mandate into KSF ( from now one year into 3 months transition since the situation is unpredictable and there can be no trust at Serbia army and its paramilitary groups) aiming the use of this KSF 3000 strong military compound for keeping first frontlines border combat if Serbia and Russia would try to assault military Kosovo borders ( also there should be some internal negotiations and deals with ANA comandos aiming to use them too in the first lines of the conflict) thus NATO and KFOR would preserve their serviceman not to be jeopardised if combat of low intensity is in place. NATO and KFOR in this case will just logisticaly back up Kosovo Security Force and be fully engaged only when there is conflict of a large scale |
Serggio
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... Kreshnik, do you know why there was no large scale conflict and devastation in Slovenia? Because Serbia opposed this, and did not want to mobilize its forces. On the other hand, the war sides was Slovenia and federal army, with soldiers from all republics. Take a history lesson before you write something like "Serbia starts war with Slovenia". |
shpendo
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... To: Sasa Randelkovic "A "Kosovar" army is less legitimate than a "Kosovar" state. What you are proposing here is a fascistled army, last time Europe saw the signs of an army in Kosmet armed by the west were in 1942, when Hitler armed you!" It is funny that many patriotic Serbs call us Nazi collaborators and fundamentalist Islamists referring to the version of history written by the Serbian Academy of Arts and Science. It is the same academy that planned colonization of Kosovo no matter what the cost would be, and no matter how many Albanians they will kill or chase away... that is the real reason why Kosovo became a state and will have its army. One more thing, my grandfather who just recently (a year ago) passed away was a partisan... he did not fight for Albanians only. He fought against German Nazis’ and Italian Fascists... so read some history other than SANU's, and maybe than you will make a comment on the need for Serbia to de-Nazify itself and take some more steps towards 21st century and not go back to the medieval. |
Chris Blaku
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... The Kosovar state, now recognized by the world's most economically influential nations, requires a military to defend itself from its hostile northern neighbor, Serbia. Serbian officials have declared that they will never recognize the Kosovar state, and will continue to regard it as part of its territory. In today's world climate, it is impractical to expect NATO forces to remain for the long term, and Kosova must also consider the security of its citizens in case of a change in political views across Europe. Although Serbian posters seem to believe this has something to do with a "Greater Albania," a nation is allowed to, and even required to, manage an armed force to defend itself against domestic and foreign attack. All Albanian politicians have denounced the idea of a Greater Albania, whereas Serbian politicians have actively threatened the West by suggesting provocation of their extremist elements, which formerly fought for a "Greater Serbia." Additionally, Milosevic's policies, supported by a majority of Serbs, despite their well-practiced cries of endless victimization, were tailored around Serbian expansion at the expense of the Bosnians, Croats and most importantly, the Kosovar Albanians. As for poster's suggestions that Haradinaj, Ceku and Thaci are nationalist thugs and "terrorists," which is a word the Serbian media and government throw around very liberally when describing anyone that objects to their oppression and expansion that happens to be a Muslim, the Albanian accused have turned themselves in to face justice at the Hague. Unfortunately, it seems your "nationalists," are undoubtedly more interested in self-preservation than submitting to justice in the interest of their nation. The EU has offered Serbia countless incentives to turn in Mladic and Karadzic, and instead, the new "modern, democratic," Serbia has aided and abetted the has-been fugitives. The Serbians have to confront their nationalist demons, and forget about threatening the US and EU with instability. Although the Russians have cried that they warned of the occurring instability in Serbia, it is obvious to any observer that wherever you look, the instigators and offenders are always the Serbs. The Serbs have attacked embassies, burned Western flags, border posts, attacked KFOR troops and officials, rioted in the Bosnian-Serb republic, and this is in the past two weeks. Furthermore, in an act of undefinable hypocrisy, the Bosnian-Serbs have threatened to declare independence in response to the Kosovar declaration of independence which they promise to never recognize, although they intend to use its recognition to power their own self interests, which are, apparently, a "Greater Serbia." The Serbians are trying to force a de-facto partition of Mitrovica so they can continue to wave this threat around, much as they do in Bosnia, and promote instability, suggesting to the world that if the Serbs don't get their way, they'll destabilize the region in mass temper tantrum. |
Kreshnik Hoxha.
said:
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... As soon as I saw the title of this article, I was sure that it will be sensational. First of all, I would like to say few words to Spasoje Markociv, who accusses the authors for their radical views. I think you are the last person to talk about hardcore-ultranationalism considering your nation is still, unfortunately, suffering from an epidemic brainwashing disease of nationalism. The level of brainwashing calamity reached in Serbia enables people to cut their nose off to spite their face! Shocking! The latest elections support my argument fully. Secodnly, I still think that Spasoje Markovic is the last person to talk about the Kosovo leaders. I am not going to argue with you about Ceku, Haradinaj etc, but all I can say is, at least none of my leaders have ashamed their country by showing their proudness when undergoing genocide (i.e. Milosveic) or none of my leaders have appealed to the nations stating that burning embassies equates to nothing when someone chops Kosovo from Serbia. Finally, I am extremely happy that I do not belong to a country that consciously digs its own hole in terms of dimplomatic relations with the world. All the best, Kreshnik |
Sasa Randelkovic
said:
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... A "Kosovar" army is less legitimate than a "Kosovar" state. What you are proposing here is a fascistled army, last time Europe saw the signs of an army in Kosmet armed by the west was in 1942, when Hitler armed you! |
Kreshnik
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... "on the surface pro-European, under the skin hardcore nationalists" Spasoje Markovic i think you are a bit confused because that is exactly what Serbs are hardcore Nationalist. Thats why you started wars against Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosova and you lost them all. Its your own fault and stop blaiming everybody else like you are some kind of a victim. You guys can probably misslead your own people but you can not misslead the world because thay can see you for what you are and that is Scumbags! |
Spasoje Markovic
said:
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... The radical view of Salih Shala and his compatriots regarding the unification of "Albanian" territories is a well known fact amongst most people here in Scandinavia. As far as I am concerned, there is no real difference between Shala and the thugs such as Ceku, Thaci or Haradinaj. All of them are terrorists, on the surface pro-European, under the skin hardcore nationalists. |
Jeremiah Isiah
said:
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... How so Cynic? As the gentlemens stated very clearly, I recite; "Others claim that a Kosovar army might be seen as a threat to its neighbors, which is a ridiculous claim considering the size of Kosovo. Kosovo can never, and must never be seen as a threat to any of its neighbors. Macedonia will in a very short period of time be a full member of NATO; Albania likewise. Kosovo is also in no position to threaten Serbia considering the huge disparity in military power between the two states. Kosovo can never be seen as a threat to anyone, with the exception of the threat to its own internal domestic security which a weak defense force entails." To whom is a Kosovar army a threat? |
Arber Berisha
said:
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... Good arguments. An army is a must for a state, the people must have the right to have a common army for its protection. Otherwise their faith will be in the hands of the surrounding countries, and presumtive riots can't be handled effetively. |
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