Kosovo government: Creation of army cannot remain dependent on Serbia (media)
The government of Kosovo has issued a press release saying that it will review the draft law on Kosovo Security Force (KSF) transformation as soon as it receives it from the Assembly and make sure it is in line with the Constitution of Kosovo. The press release states that the draft law was proposed by President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, but that Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, was informed on the initiative on 5 March before Thaci announced it during a visit to KSF barracks. “Based on the Resolution of the Republic of Kosovo Assembly that resulted from the debate on KSF on 14 February of this year, the Prime Minister had requested the KSF Minister to prepare strategy for KSF transformation into an Armed Force, namely army, be it through constitutional changes or changed to the KSF law,” the statement reads. However, Prime Minister Mustafa is said to have also requested a “broad debate” on the issue with all parties, citizens, the civil society as well as representatives of communities “in order to overcome conditionings and blockades to KSF transformation through constitutional changes.” According to the press release, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked Prime Minister Isa Mustafa yesterday in a telephone conversation to reconsider the change of KSF mandate without a constitutional change and the same concern was also expressed by US and UK ambassadors. “Prime Minister considers that the establishment of a Kosovo Army cannot remain dependent on Serbia, respectively Belgrade. The advancement of the KSF role into that of an Army is in the interest of all citizens of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnic background. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to Kosovo having its own army within the scope of the Republic of Kosovo’s Constitution and with the support and coordination of our strategic partners, the US and NATO.”