Mehaji's military commanders desert: Kosovo lost much in defence field

He resigned officially Tuesday from this post, which he held at Kurti Government for more than two years.

The military reasoned on leaving with certain family circumstances, which its chief, Albin Kurti, mentioned when thanking him for his first - day commitment.

The reason is not convincing the two military commanders, Kadri Kastrati and Hisen Berisha, who have doubts.

“Why he resigned I don't know, he knows, but I think it's at least for family reasons”, Kastrati said.

“Curt became a removal secret. Mehe has not been able to be part of a government that undergos sanctions from the EU and America, the Army's main ally. Example is exclusion from Defender Europe 23”, Berisha said on the other side.

Both acknowledge that with Mehe's departure, Kosovo has lost much in the field of defence.

Sorry I waited for the news. I think it was the man who worked most, he had clear targets, he worked hard to strengthen the army. The state has lost a lot. It's a shame he didn't stand to the end to achieve his goals. It has done modernisation of the military, invested in equipment, infrastructure. It has increased the army budget”, said Kadri Kastrati for “Front Online”.

“Minister Mehaj has carried out the task with dedication, has had the desire to practice the Kosovo Force” project, Hisen Berisha stressed for “Front Online”.

What will Armur Mehaji remember?

The direction of the dictatorship responsible for the formation and implementation of security and state order, Meheh received on 22 March 2021. Very few people may have known him by then.

The 42-year-old became the first man in the Kurti 2 Government to come from abroad (Norvegia) to take up the minister's post. Being part of Norway's 1999 Armed Forces, with service experience in Afghanistan and Chad, he was thought to bring his necessary experience to Kosovo in the area of the country's defence.

Armend Mehaj was voted the most successful minister in a Gazeta Express poll last year. The several-day vote had placed Mehej at the top of the list, with over 20% of the vote. He was one of the ministers with the least public presentation. His activity, mainly revealed on social networks.

The amount of money raised in this fund was never discussed, and that was the point at which the Ministry of Defence was probably most criticized during Meheh-led time. Now the former minister said the means would be used in line with a state strategy that would be approved by the Government and that the foundation of this fund was at “full co-ordination with the United States”. Now, after his resignation, he outlined his work in a Facebook post where he didn't mention the Security Fund.

Mejaj engaged in increasing the number of members of the Kosovo Security Force. For two years, the KSF was added to 1836 soldiers. In 2021 they graduated 404 recruits to KSF. In 2022, 820 other recruits graduated. In 2023, 612 new recruits will be trained, 316 of whom started basic training.

“Create numbers, modern weapons and adequate training. Our army is the security of the homeland”, wrote former Prime Minister Armend Mehaj four days ago on Facebook.

Former German KFOR Commander Ehard Bühler praised Mehej in an interview for the Express in February, saying he “is doing an excellent job in seeking co-operation with NATO whenever possible”.

“.E is simultaneously building the Kosovo Army according to NATO standards. This is the right and pragmatic way for the period of transition”, Bühler said.

In announcing his resignation on Facebook, Mehe said that what he led the Ministry of Defence has become <x0m euros in arms purchase and equipment, for the first time through direct interstate agreements, avoiding and preventing possible misusing”.

In the increase of military capacities, Bayraktar fears purchase will be remembered TB-2 from Turkey.