http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=01&dd=21&nav_i d=56564
B92 January 21, 2009 Kosovo: Security or militarization? -“All security formations and institutions formed in Kosovo, given that they’re uni-national, actually have battle at the top of their agendas or the priority of data and information collection of those who they perceive to be least loyal — namely, the Serb community and the Serbian state.” -“Clearly the wish is to intimidate the Serbs with these forces to bring about a new wave of ethnic cleansing.” -Security force members...will be trained by British Army officers, with their uniforms provided by the U.S., and their vehicles by Germany. The Kosovo Security Forces will be commanded by former Kosovo Liberation Army military leader and, until yesterday, Kosovo Protection Corps (KZK) commander Sulejman Selimi. PRISTINA, BELGRADE - Yesterday's raising of the Kosovo security forces flag marked the start of operations of the province’s newest armed formation. The forces, which formally came into operation at midnight, have been formed just under a year since the unilateral declaration of independence, and their establishment has incurred the displeasure not only of Serb leaders in Kosovo, but Belgrade too. It has led Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic to say that KFOR and NATO have to have full control over those forces, while the Kosovo Serb Assembly has called on President Boris Tadic to demand an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council over the creation of the Kosovo Security Forces. The forces will number 2,500 active members and 800 reservists, all lightly armed. The unit’s establishment was envisaged by the Martti Ahtisaari plan, which also stipulated that 10 percent of its members, both active and reserves, should come from non-Albanian communities. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci stressed that it would be a multi-ethnic organization that would respect all standards. “The security forces will fully abide by international standards, the Kosovo constitution and NATO standards. I have every confidence that, given that the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) is multi-ethnic and professional, that the new security forces will also be formed along the same lines, and fully in accordance with Western and NATO standards,” said Thaci. The Kosovo Serbs, however, do not view the new formation so benignly. Vice-President of the Kosovo Serb National Council Rada Trajkovic believes that the overarching goal of the Kosovo Security Forces will be to control the Kosovo Serbs and everything that enters Kosovo from Serbia. “All security formations and institutions formed in Kosovo, given that they’re uni-national, actually have battle at the top of their agendas or the priority of data and information collection of those who they perceive to be least loyal — namely, the Serb community and the Serbian state,” she says. It is stressed that the formation of the security forces will not solve the situation on the ground in the north of the province. Milan Ivanovic from the Serb National Council for Northern Kosovo says that the security forces are targeted against the Serbs. “Clearly the wish is to intimidate the Serbs with these forces to bring about a new wave of ethnic cleansing,” said Ivanovic. .... Security force members will begin their training on February 2 in Vucitrn. They will be trained by British Army officers, with their uniforms provided by the U.S., and their vehicles by Germany. The Kosovo Security Forces will be commanded by former Kosovo Liberation Army military leader and, until yesterday, Kosovo Protection Corps (KZK) commander Sulejman Selimi. ------------------------------------------------------ http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n168050 Focus News Agency (Bulgaria) January 21, 2009 Kosovo launches new security force Pristina - Kosovo on Wednesday launched a new security force made up of 2,500 civilians and paramilitaries and 800 reservists, its commander, General Sylejman Selimi said, quoted by AFP. The NATO-trained FSK force will carry unspecified light weapons....It will also be under the control of parliament. "We're at the beginning of a new phase; this force has become a reality," General Selimi told the press. The FSK replaces the Kosovar Protection Force which had been made up mainly of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), the separatist guerrilla that fought Serbia during the 1998-1999 conflict. Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
