Kosovo Army to do with military fears, US equipment

Mehej was on a visit to Washington these days, during which he met with senior American officials, including US Undersecretary of Defence Colin Kahl.

Minister Mehaj said meetings with senior American officials were within regular bilateral contacts in the service of deepening co-operation towards the establishment of the Kosovo Army and its capacities.

Kosovo is in the upper form of its military. This is what our people have wanted for hundreds of thousands of years. Today we are on that level that together with the United States of America we are building the capacities Kosovo State needs”, Mehe said of the Voice of America.

In the fall of 2018, Kosovo, with the support of the United States, decided that through legal changes, it would transform the military Security Force.

We are now in the second phase of the coordinated and common plan, especially with the United States of America. Now we are in the phase that military capacities are increasing daily, state needs are required. These circumstances have also included visits and joint coordination. As you know, we've recently had joint military training, one of the greatest military training. We were also a host country for the first time in Kosovo. We are now co-operating for the exercise, Dfender Europe 23, but also for joint international operations. Where America needs, there will be Kosovo's army side by side with them”, Minister Mehaj said.

Minister Mehaj says security and the economy are priorities for the Kosovo government, adding that the coming year investment opportunities in the security sector will be greater as a 40 per cent increase in the military budget is envisioned.

He says the Ministry of Defence and KSF is working on the purchase of military equipment for the establishment of military capabilities of the armed forces, such as fears discussed with the American side.

We've been discussing, these are under way, not just drones, but other purchases. We're in charge of how to function”.

Mejaj said his work priority is the involvement of more women and members of communities in the KSF. But the challenge remains to include members of the Serb community, due to pressure exerted by Belgrade.

“We have faced some difficulties both as a state and as a Kosovo Army because of threats coming to the Serb community, so that they are not part of Kosovo state security levels. There we have lost a large number of members. Now we're recruiting. We have coordinates with many members of the Kosovo Army who are from the Serb community. They're happy. But they also find themselves often threatened, especially those from the northern part of Kosovo”.