Kosovo's Long Road to NATO

Since the adoption of three laws to transform the Kosovo Security Force -- from a force for emergency intervention to a military force, Kosovo's NATO membership -- is now stressed as one of the top priorities in the field of defence and security.

Kosovo institutions say aspirations for membership in the North-Atlantic Alliance (NATO) will continue to be addressed with the greatest seriousness.

Kosovo Government officials stress that co-operation, transparency and co-ordination with NATO mechanisms in Kosovo constantly helps achieve and strengthen democratic standards.

Deputy Minister of Defence in the Government of Kosovo Burim Ramadani told Radio Free Europe that Kosovo is a reliable ally of NATO, and that according to him, Kosovo has numerous priorities as it has met a large part of its criteria.

Kosovo understands the NATO membership process, understands how the function and how decisions are made in the North-Atlantic Alliance. As such, there will be full co-ordination in all areas so that not only increased presence, integration and eventual NATO membership, but also that the whole process will be successful”, Ramadani said.

According to him, Kosovo's NATO membership is a multidimensional area that includes democratic and diplomatic aspects, as well as aspects of institutional advancement and defence.

Kosovo Government Deputy Defence Minister Burim Ramadani, who has already been appointed National Co-ordinator for Integration and Membership in NATO, says Kosovo has defined its foreign and security policy.

Ramadani stresses that in this direction there will be commitments to have a more co-ordination of all local and international institutions so that, as he says, the “issue will be addressed correctly on the path towards NATO integration and membership”.

“in the first stages, of course Kosovo intends to have certain actions that do not present any kind of obstacle to either us or NATO. Also in the middle phase, we aim to format exact steps for full NATO membership. For us it is very important that Kosovo's communication and reports with NATO be stable. It's important that these reports advance and this is our first task at this stage. Also, it is important that the steps for membership also be formalised, and this is the challenge facing”, Ramadani said.

The deputy minister said Kosovo is going into different political processes and that, according to him, Kosovo's approach to NATO cannot be linked to other processes.

Meanwhile, security affairs connoisseur John Culay, speaking of Radio Free Europe, considers Kosovo on its path towards NATO integration will face challenges both domestic and foreign.

He says that in addition to the structured dialogue that should be launched in order to move towards the first Partnership for Peace agreement, it should work in a bilatheral respect with the states that are part of NATO and have recognised Kosovo's independence.

Of course, there have now been some conditions at the institutional level, because one of the main internal challenges we have overcome, so the law has already passed, which has transformed our security forces into the Kosovo Armed Forces. So, as one of the main conditions. However, there remains work, it will probably be longer [the path] than we think for now. But, however, we are on the right track that there is already this political will of our institutions that this process be institutionalised”, Culaj said.

Officials say that security institutions in Kosovo, in the first order the Kosovo Security Force (FSK), have specialised capacities that can help peace and security anywhere in the world side by side with the soldiers of NATO countries.

At the Ministry of Kosovo Protection, they say over 20 years, Kosovo has shown full co-operation and co-ordination with the NATO-led KFOR mission, and also has co-operation on a daily basis with NATO's advisory and liaison team that helps develop democratic standards.

Otherwise, NATO membership is open to “any other European state that is able to respect the principles of this Treaty and contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area”.

NATO also has what it calls the Membership Action Plan. The plan helps members who aspire to prepare for membership and who meet key requirements by offering them practical advice and appropriate assistance.

Purpose NATO, according to its principles, is to ensure the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

The decisions in NATO are taken by consensus on the collective will of all member states.