Long transition KSF towards a Military Force

Security field officials estimate that the KSF has not made any transformation that can be seen as unique. And institutions' representatives say that despite the challenges presented, since the adoption and entry of three relevant laws -- to the Ministry of Defence, to the Kosovo Security Force and the Ministerial Law in the Kosovo Security Force -- jobs towards transformation have been going according to predictions.

Burim Ramadani, the outgoing deputy minister of defence, told Radio Free Europe that so far some capacities have been achieved to continue with other operational works.

The Kosovo Security Force has established the General Staff. Four main commands have been established. The number has increased, a number of new members have been accepted, and as such, work has continued in other aspects. The ministry is at the end of the transition phase in the defence ministry, and I can generally say that we already have Minister and Force in capacity and administrative, political and operational terms that respond to legal requirements and obligations”, Ramadani said.

Ramadani said Kosovo has defined its policies on the defence level.

The government has decided that even Gjakova Airport is under management of the KSF Ministry of Defence, so that for any kind of capacity development, we can also have necessary” spaces, Ramadani said.

The Kosovo Security Force has been established consistently even under NATO supervision, aimed after a transition phase of 7-10 years, and Kosovo will be part of the Atlantic Alliance.

Currently, Kosovo has a government on the run. As Kosovo's incoming government, according to Ramadan, must take into account the component of the continuation of international partnership and the continuation of strategic policies.

Subsequently to maintain pro-American orientation, the American model, and therefore NATO's model in the weapons, equipment and communication system, while the second element to continue defence policies and I believe in the programme that we have presented in the national security strategy, the programme for national security education, and defence”, Ramadani said.

Plator Avdiu, the security affairs connoisseur from the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, says that from the jobs done so far, there is no evidence that much has been done in this direction and that, according to him, neither this year nor next, it is not possible to expect much in terms of a progress in transformation.

“Publicly it may seem that they are slow and we're not seeing a lot of concrete things, but I'm also thinking that we can't expect much during this phase, unless we can achieve a little more in the number of members, the staff of new recruits and perhaps even the growth of the budget from year to<1>, Avdiu said.

Avdiu considers that Kosovo institutions, as if they are not rushing into carrying out their affairs and obligations at a broader pace.

I think this report is also being taken into account with NATO that may gradually be acceptable to NATO states and the NATO alliance itself. On the other hand, the transition plan itself is a 10-year plan that will take time until the KSF reaches all defamatory capacities because it is known that this will be a largely protective force, meaning defanzies and will not be offensive”, Avdiu said.

With the comprehensive transition plan, the number of KSF members is planned to reach 5,000 active members and 2 thousand and 500 reserves. Of them, 10 percent are required to be among minority communities. Currently, the KSF faces the problem of including members of the Serb community, following official Belgrade's pressures, which has invited Serbs to boycott this force, considering it harmful and “non-stability sector in the region”.

In December 2018, Kosovo's Assembly adopted legal changes to change the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (FSK).

The KSF's new responsibilities concern preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity, citizens, property and interests of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as military support for civil authorities and participation in international operations.