Military of Kosovo

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The Military of Kosovo is still in the process of being organized following the self-proclaimed and partially recognized declaration of independence of February 17, 2008. Military presence in the republic currently includes NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the so called civilian emergency services organization Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). Both entities collaborate towards the formation of a regular security force of 2,500 active soldiers and 800 reservists. In addition, United States has authorized military aid to Kosovo in another step to establish formal relations with the newly independent country.

Contents

[edit] History

Following the Kosovo War in 1999, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosovo under the authority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with security provided by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. At the time of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo was facing a grave humanitarian crisis, with military and paramilitary forces from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in daily engagement. Ethnic tensions were at their highest and the death toll had reached a historic high. Nearly one million people had fled Kosovo as refugees.[1]

On March 19, 2008, United States President George W. Bush authorized military aid to Kosovo in another step to establish formal relations with the newly independent country.[2] Bush said he believes supplying arms to Kosovo will "strengthen U.S. security and foster world peace".[3]

[edit] Military units

[edit] Kosovo Force (KFOR)

Main article: Kosovo Force
Pocket badge of the KFOR in both latin and cyrillic letters
Pocket badge of the KFOR in both latin and cyrillic letters
Flag of the Kosovo Protection Corps
Flag of the Kosovo Protection Corps

The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. As of 2007, KFOR consisted of approximately 16,000 troops.

[edit] Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC)

Main article: Kosovo Protection Corps

The Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) (Albanian: Trupat e Mbrojtjes së Kosovës) is a civilian emergency services organization in Kosovo. The KPC was created on September 21, 1999, through the promulgation of UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 and the agreement of a "Statement of Principles" on the KPC's permitted role in Kosovo. Its membership was initially composed largely of demilitarized veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) (Albanian: Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës or UÇK) the dissolved Albanian paramilitary guerrilla organization which sought independence for the province of Kosovo from Yugoslavia and Serbia during the 1990s.

The KPC has currently some 5,000 members,[4] and a budget of €17.6 million (US$25.4 million)[5] representing ca. 0.79% of GDP.[6]

[edit] Kosovo Security Forces

As of March 2008, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) have started preparations for formation of security forces in Kosovo. According to the Kosovo daily Kosova Sot, the plan foresees that the security forces carry light weapons and be in line with NATO's requirements. "The plan envisages that the security force be comprised of 2.500 active soldiers and 800 reservists at age 19-35," the daily says. The admission and the training of personnel will begin by late May or early June, when NATO experts are expected to arrive in Kosovo.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ NATO Topics: NATO in Kosovo
  2. ^ Bush OKs supplying arms to Kosovo, AFP, March 19, 2008.
  3. ^ Russian FM: US Weapons to Kosovo Illegal, Voice of America, March 20, 2008.
  4. ^ KPC's website: KPC's History and Mission. Accessed October 26, 2007.
  5. ^ KPC's website: Budget. Accessed November 1, 2007.
  6. ^ UNMIK Fact Sheet: Kosovo In April 2007PDF (126 KiB): 2006 GDP according to the International Monetary Fund is € 2.227 billion (preliminary estimate).
  7. ^ Security forces to be formed in Kosovo, MRT.com, March 31, 2008.

[edit] See also

[edit] NATO installations in Kosovo

Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo

[edit] External links


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