The Serbian List, represented in the Assembly of Kosovo with 11 MPs, is blocking the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into Kosovo Armed Force (KAF), said representatives of the Kosovo government. The establishment of the Kosovo Armed Force can only be done through a constitutional amendment which requires double majority, namely also two-thirds of votes from non-Albanian communities. Kosovo Security Force Minister, Haki Demolli, said that KSF has already implemented its entire programme and is ready to undergo the transformation process. “We are ready but are waiting for the political decision,” Demolli said. He added that at present the Serbian List MPs have not expressed any readiness to discuss the issue but that the KSF transformation into KAF cannot be stopped by anyone. “Kosovo will have its armed force because this is also set out in the Ahtisaari package”.
The Serbian List representatives have “frozen” their participation in the Assembly of Kosovo following the adoption of the law on Trepca mining complex. Nenad Rasic, Serbian List MP, said that there is no “room for maneuvering” within the ruling coalition regarding the Kosovo Armed Force. “It would be an illusion to believe that now is the time to initiate this issue,” said Rasic.
Meanwhile, Daut Haradinaj from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and chairman of the Kosovo Assembly’s Committee on Internal Affairs, Security and Supervision of the Kosovo Security Force, said the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Force should not be delayed. According to him, the government of Kosovo should discuss the issue with the Serbian List and if it fails to secure its support, should then proceed to vote a law that would not aim at changing the constitution but simply providing the KSF with additional tasks and responsibilities.
