Rexhep Selimi: We were side by side in the war, and so will the military.

The Kosovo Security Force has fulfilled the mandate, reaching operational capacities and is ready for transformation into the Kosovo Army since 2014.

So stated KSF Minister Rrustem Berisha, at the Commission for Internal Affairs, Security and KSF Supervision, where he has reported on the priorities and challenges of this ministry.

Berisha said they are focused on establishing strategic policies, which are aimed at maintaining the KSF's capacities, advancing them and developing in the future as a professional and multiethnic force.

As a top priority, Minister Berisha said they have professional education of human resources within the KSF, deepening co-operation with regional states, the integration of non-party communities, and in particular the Serb community, which already has 103 members in the ranks of the Kosovo Security Force.

We're on a good track. The KSF has established a commission for transformation and modernisation of the KSF, and that commission has done many great jobs. We as KSF will be in support of politics, for transformation. But, as it is known, it is political. It's very important that we have good co-ordination among institutionals. A co-operation with international partners and in the future to have an approach with the Serb community, because this is for the benefit of all. We know there was a war in the past, but it's past. We should focus on the future, because this is the interest of even all Kosovo citizens. The transformation of KSF is good for all citizens. And we want this message to be conveyed to every citizen of Kosovo in the future. The important thing is that the community, which has been accepted 163 minorities, is also from the north of Kosovo, which is a good and positive step”, he said.

The member of this commission from VV ranks, Rexhep Selimi, said the KSF would have their support for advancing Kosovo's military capacities. He urged Minister Berisha to have adequate access to budgetary issues involving KSF and its transformation process in the military.

“This topic's completely different budget treatment is necessary. Because despite political rhetoric, when we see that this budget growth is not pre-priced, then just rhetoric remains. I think the budget would have to start the seriousness or practical actions to advance this force. Now it may not be personal, but our common experience led us to have the right to postpone as much as possible on the road to advancing military capacities. We've known each other since the war. In war we were wings to arms. In parliament we stand face to face. But when it comes to forming an army, we are still side by side. And I believe that's important to you. What we guarantee you, we guarantee you strict surveillance, which will probably even bother you and it's good that it bothers him”, he said.

Minister Berisha, responding to questions about the KSF budget, said it is not the budget, which they expect, but that with the change of the political decision on transformation in the military, he could put it in implementation to recommend the strategic revision of the security sector.

“As far as the budget review is concerned, we have made our demands. We had yesterday's budgetary hearing for the 2018 fiscal year with the Ministry of Finance. It's actually not the budget we expect, because according to the strategic revision of the security sector, it is presuming that fiscal annually will increase the budget for 5m euros. But the minister's response is that for now it is this budget and at the moment when the political decision to transform the KSF changes, then we can put it into implementation to recommend the strategic revision of the security sector. There's an increase of about 3 million in this 2018 budget. The 2017 budget was some 51m and 35 thousand euros. Now it's the proposal that this is somewhere 54 million”, he said.

The second deputy chairman of this commission from the Serbian List, Zoran Mojsilovic, said integration of the northern Serbs into the KSF is political issues.

“As far as the integration of Serbs in KSF has been stressed in Kosovo's north. This will be part of a political process, everything with the north is part of the political process. It's easier that we here with position and opposition, you and these guys will find solutions a lot easier than you are war buddies. But I hope that I will find a common solution, a positive solution, which will be acceptable to all”, he said.