Military of Kosovo

The Military of Kosovo is an organisation still in the process of being formed 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 civilian emergency services organization Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). Both entities collaborate towards the formation of a regular security force of 3,500 active soldiers and 800 reservists. In addition, United States has authorized military aid to Kosovo in another step to establish formal relations with what it recognizes as a newly independent country.

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. [ [http://www.nato.int/issues/kosovo/index.html NATO Topics: NATO in Kosovo] ]

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. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTYBWxbnwoby8z38DtzDO_W31Bww Bush OKs supplying arms to Kosovo] , AFP, March 19, 2008.] Bush said he believes supplying arms to Kosovo will "strengthen U.S. security and foster world peace". [ [http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-03-20-voa40.cfm Russian FM: US Weapons to Kosovo Illegal] , Voice of America, March 20, 2008.]

Military units

Kosovo Force (KFOR)

[
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.

Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC)

The Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) ( _sq. 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, [ [http://www.tmk-ks.org/new/english/pertmk/per.php KPC's website: KPC's History and Mission] . Accessed October 26, 2007.] and a budget of €17.6 million (US$25.4 million) [ [http://www.tmk-ks.org/new/english/pertmk/per.php?id=3 KPC's website: Budget] . Accessed November 1, 2007.] representing ca. 0.79% of GDP. [UNMIK PDF| [http://www.unmikonline.org/docs/2007/Fact_Sheet_apr_2007.pdf Fact Sheet: Kosovo In April 2007] |126 KiB : 2006 GDP according to the International Monetary Fund is € 2.227 billion (preliminary estimate).]

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. [ [http://www.mrt.com.mk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4845&Itemid=28 Security forces to be formed in Kosovo] , MRT.com, March 31, 2008.]

References

ee also

NATO installations in Kosovo

*Camp Bondsteel
*Camp Casablanca

External links

* [http://www.nato.int/kfor/ KFOR official site (NATO)]
* [http://www.tmk-ks.org/ Kosovo Protection Corps]
* [http://www.nato.int/kfor/kfor/kpc/images/kpc_stru_reg.gifStructure of the Kosovo Protection Corps]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000301034049/http://www.janes.com/defence/features/kosovo/kla.html The KLA: braced to defend and control] Jane's
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/kla.htm Intelligence Resources page on KLA] Federation of American Scientists
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990555,00.html Kosovo's Army in Waiting] TIME