Towards Compulsive Military Service Application

As they say, consider developments that connect with Regional risks and threats, as well as global ones from terrorism, but also from tensions stemming from Russia, several European NATO member states, but also abroad, which have now and several decades removed mandatory military service, have restored it to function or are in the process of restitution.

Despite Kosovo's context of implementing military service is changing to many of those countries, however, according to them, for Kosovo's circumstances that would be desirable.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in the resume he put on. in the Kosovo Assembly on February 3rd, about aspects of the country's governance during its mandate, has said preparations for mandatory military service in Kosovo would be launched.

“This service will be in 3 months' length, which will help the Kosovo Security Force fulfil its additional duties and role in the field of defence”, Kurti has said.

Compulsible Military Service With Legal Changes

Plator Avdiu, analyst at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, tells Radio Free Europe that introducing a mandatory military service does not mean militarizing those who submit to this obligation. According to him, practices show that in various mandatory military services there are community-related sectors, civil emergencies and others.

I personally think there should be mandatory military service. It would strengthen the defense component. In Kosovo, it would be understood not only in the sense of militarism, but also in the sense of providing community assistance, because we know that the military, among other things, is not only conventional sense. However, the circumstances of political developments have raised the need for the military to evolve and not only be seen with that militaristic perspective, but in a probably greater view of the human security aspect”, Avdiu said.

But, he adds, to make military service mandatory in Kosovo, legal changes involving the Ministry of Defence, the Kosovo Security Force and for service in this force are required.

Security Affairs Diplomat Nuredin Ibishi, former Kosovo Assembly President, speaking of Radio Free Europe, says that in the event Prime Minister Kurti's proposal for mandatory military service is dedicated, the legal framework must regulate the involvement of both genders, but European and global conventions of gun service and without them, as support services.

I think a model like Switzerland is extremely acceptable to us. This had to be necessary, especially with limited capacities that are actually for the Kosovo Security Force, which are only 5 thousand active and 3 thousand reserves and are probably insufficient in the event of a possible threat to Kosovo. I think to do such a thing and to make the pre-training program for this first phase, because this is only three months, then I think that for a two-year term it would be possible to start implementing”, Ibishi said.

Young Ones in Favor of Compatible Service

Prime Minister Kurti's goal, during his rule Military Service be binding, some young people in Pristina consider it must live.

Vanessa Orana, a student, says he welcomes the prime minister's commitment in this direction.

It's great to have military experience. You have a rule after all in your life. Three months are not much compared with some countries that are much longer - both for women and men. I, for myself, would go if I received my call”, Orana said.

Guzim Berisha, says he is 35 years old, but is willing to respond to invitation for Forced Military Service, if, as he says, the goal of Prime Minister Kurti comes to life.

“I believe that, not only I, but any young man and woman would serve in the army of the Republic of Kosovo”, Berisha said.

Liberation Syla, a student, says that her family already has military traditions from her father and mandatory military service, she even views it as a life lesson.

I'd like to experience the feeling that I'm in the military, at all times, for months. I think that our society, our youth, needs some kind of discipline and that more or less, to look at and see how it should be in a strategy for life beyond and not just in relation to the army, Syla praised.

Edon Statovci, another youth, says he will not even host mandatory military service.

I'd rather join our army. I am also applying for admission to KSF”, Statovci said.

KSF regeneration

Analyst Plator Avdiu, suggests that if the Kurti government is aimed at implementing mandatory military service, in addition to harmonising the legal framework and coping with financial costs, harmonisation will be needed, at least with some of the NATO countries that apply similar practices. Given the experience of objections NATO has faced against the formation of the Kosovo Army, Avdiu does not expect this alliance, as a whole, to co-operate with Kosovo in this direction.

However, this cannot prevent Kosovo from working with other NATO states, which have mandatory military service, receiving advice, aid and suggestions. In gradual form, this can be implemented, perhaps without touching that substracial part of KSF, which has been built for years by the international community, especially the United States of America and other states”.

“Then, to look at some more flexible components where compulsory military service can be applied, gradually shaped, which may later affect other components of the army”, Avdiu praised.

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Meanwhile, Nuredin Ibishi estimates that mandatory military service can create opportunities for regeneration of the Kosovo Security Force professional frameworks.

The difference is that KSF is a professional army, but actually it has to be regenerationd according to the years, as the structure ages over time and normally needs to be replaced with new capacities. The possibility of recruiting from this facility, that is, from compulsory military service, is much better, of course, if they express the will for such a thing. Normally, the other issue is that more KSF capacities are added, in quantitative terms, but perhaps even qualitative, in the face of a risk or a possible domestic security threat”, Ibishi said.

Security Affairs Agreements have stressed that Kosovo Government should keep in mind that Military Service Application Obligable there are greater financial implications than is currently the budget set aside for the Kosovo Security Force, though the budget for this force is meant to have progressive growth annually.