Kosovo Security Force

The Kosovo Security Force (Albanian: Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës, Serbian: Kosovske Bezbednosne Snage, KSF) is an emergency response force charged with conducting crisis response operations in Kosovo and abroad and civil protection operations in Kosovo. Its main tasks are operations in the areas of Search and Rescue, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Firefighting, and Hazardous Material Disposal. However, it is also equipped with light weaponry, and the Kosovo government plans to transform it into an army. The Commander of the KSF is Lieutenant General Kadri Kastrati.

In March 2008, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) started preparations for the formation of the Kosovo Security Force. According to guidance laid out in the Ahtisaari Plan, the security force is permitted to carry light weapons and the Government of Kosovo and the international community planned to bring the force in line with NATO standards. The admission and the training of personnel began in early June, when NATO experts arrived in Kosovo to guide the process, and from early December 2008, enlisting of candidates between 18–30 years old began. The law states that the strength should be 2500 persons with a reserve of 800.^[2][4]

History

Following the Kosovo War in 1999, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosovo under the authority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with security provided by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. On 19 March 2008, United States President George W. Bush authorised military aid to Kosovo Security Force in another step to establish formal relations with Kosovo.^[5]

On 4 January 2009, the names of those who were to be selected for the KSF from the KPC were announced. After being vetted by NATO, roughly 1,400 former members of the KPC were selected to serve as officers and rank and file members of the KSF.

On 21 January 2009, the Kosovo Security Force was officially launched. The KSF did not replace the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) which was disbanded several months later. KFOR was charged with mentoring the KSF and bringing the force to Full Operational Capability. As part of this effort, various nations that are part of KFOR have provided assistance to the force on a bilateral basis including uniforms which were supplied by the United States and vehicles which were donated by Germany. Mentoring efforts were meant to develop the KSF in line with NATO standards.^[6][7][8] Additionally Italy, Portugal and other NATO members are to help the KSF by donations and training.^[4][9][10] Slovenia donated €30,000 towards the establishment of the KSF.^[8]

The following senior officers took their oaths on 16 June 2009, under the supervision of then KSF Commander Lieutenant-General Sylejman Selimi:^[11]

• Major-General Rrahman Rama – KSF Deputy Commander and Commander of Land Force Command
• Major-General Kadri Kastrati – Director of Operations
• Brigadier-General Bashkim Jashari – General Inspectorate of KSF
• Brigadier-General Nazmi Brahimaj – Commander of Rapid Reaction Brigade
• Brigadier-General Zymer Halimi – Chief of Operations and Training Department
• Brigadier –General Imri Ilazi – Commander of Operations Support Brigade
• Brigadier-General Enver Cikaqi – Commander of Training and Doctrine Command

On 15 September 2009 the Kosovo Security Force officially began the work, with its initial operational capacities after an eight-month training with NATO instructors.^[12]

In 2010, the KSF deployed to northern Albania on two separate occasions to perform flood relief operations in support of the Albanian domestic response.

On 22 November 2011, Lieutenant General Sylejman Selimi retired from the KSF and President Atifete Jahjaga appointed the former Director of Operations Major General Kadri Kastrati to succeed him as Commander of the force. President Jahjaga also promoted Kastrati to the rank of Lieutenant General.

On 9 July 2013 the Kosovo Security Forces reached Full Operational Capability (FOC) as determined by NATO.^[13] While the general security situation has been improving on the ground, this lightly armed force responsible for civil protection operations and assisting civil authorities in responding to natural disasters and other emergencies has now trained to standards designated by NATO. The declaration of full operational capability on 9 July 2013 by the North Atlantic Council means that the KSF is fully capable of performing the tasks assigned to it within its mandate. The KSF will conduct non-military security functions that are not appropriate for the police. In more concrete terms, this force of approximately 2200 personnel will deal with search and rescue operations, explosive ordnance disposal, control and clearance of hazardous materials, fire-fighting and other humanitarian assistance tasks. Recruitment for the Kosovo Security Force started early 2009, once NATO had agreed (June 2008) to implement new tasks in addition to those agreed under UNSCR 1244. These new tasks included the standing down of the Kosovo Protection Corps, and the creation of the KSF and of a civilian structure to oversee it.

NATO’s role in the creation of KSF has therefore been two-fold: helping with its formation – standing up, recruitment and training; and the establishment of a civilian-led organisation to supervise and control the KSF. One of the principal aims was to encourage all minorities to enroll, so special attention was given to carrying out the recruitment process in two languages – Albanian and Serbian. The result has been a professional, multi-ethnic, all-volunteer force, which should continue to remain a source of regional stability.Following the declaration of full operational capability, NATO will continue to support the development of the KSF through the NATO Liaison and Advisory Team (NLAT), consisting of a mix of approximately 30 military and civilian personnel that will help with the professional development of the KSF, providing advice and support in a variety of areas such as capacity-building and training and leadership.^[14]

Ethnic Minorities

Kosovo Security Force's Standard-bearer

Ethnic minorities of Kosovo are encouraged to enrol in the Kosovo Security Force with the Republic of Kosovo’s Constitution requiring the intergeneration of ethnic-minority communities into the Kosovo Security Force. In April 2013, 179 (8.2%) of the Kosovo Security Force's military personnel came from minority backgrounds with the rest being ethnic Albanians.^[15] In May 2014, Kosovan President Atifete Jahjaga noted to the United Nations Security Council that 9% of the KSF were from minority communities.^[16] In April 2015, it was reported that there were 42 Serbs currently serving in the Kosovo Security Force.^[17]

Kosovan Armed Forces

Members of the Kosovo Security Force

On 5 March 2014, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi declared that the Kosovan government had decided to establish a Defence Ministry and by 2019, officially transform the Kosovo Security Forces into an Army which meets all the standards of NATO states with aim in joining the alliance in the future. The new Army will have a €98 Million annual budget and will be 5,000 strong with another 3,000 reservists, which will be composed of land forces, a national guard, logistics and training commands.^[18][19][20] Kosovo's Security Forces Minister Agim Çeku stated that the Kosovo Armed Forces' mission will be "to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo, its people and their property and protect the interests of the Kosovo Republic".^[21] Kosovo's ambassador to Turkey, Avni Spahiu, stated that the "decision to establish an army has been taken in consultation with NATO and our partners... [and] the army will have a defensive character as Kosovo has no territorial aspirations".^[22] On 28 May 2014, President Atifete Jahjaga told the United Nations Security Council that the creation of the Kosovan Armed Forces would be a long process, requiring the support and participation of all ethnic communities in Kosovo; she added that its purpose would be to contribute to overall security in the Balkans and called on all ethnic communities to take part in the process.^[16] In November 2014, Agim Çeku stated that the Kosovo Army was running behind schedule "because of the delay in the constitution of the Kosovo parliament" but the decision to transform the Kosovo Security Force into an Army will be confirmed "at one of the first sessions upon its constitution"; he also noted that this transformation enjoys nationwide support and he doesn't expect any complaints from the political opposition.^[23]

Mission statement

A member of FSK with Kosovo's flag at a military parade in the Netherlands

The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is a new, professional, multi-ethnic, lightly armed and uniformed Security Force that is subject to democratic, civilian control. Its mission is to conduct crisis response operations in Kosovo and abroad; civil protection operations within Kosovo; and to assist the civil authorities in responding to natural disasters and other emergencies.

Such duties will include search and rescue operations; explosive ordnance disposal (de-mining and UXO removal); the control and clearance of hazardous materials; fire-fighting; and other humanitarian assistance tasks. The KSF will represent and protect all the people of Kosovo.

Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force: Mission Statement

The Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force (MKSF) is responsible for exercising civilian control over the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), including management and administration. It comprises a mixture of civilian and KSF personnel and is accountable, through the Prime Minister, to the Kosovo Assembly.

The mission of the MKSF, which is also the highest level KSF Headquarters, is to formulate, implement, evaluate and develop the policies and activities of the KSF within a framework of democratic governance and in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kosovo.

Organogram

Military rank insignias

	Generals
radhë	Gjenerallejtënant	Gjeneralmajor	Gjeneralbridage
rank	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General

	Staff Officers			Officers
radhë	Kolonel	Nënkolonel	Major	Kapiten	Toger	Nëntoger
rank	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	First Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant

	Non-Commissioned Officers				Enlisted Men
radhë	Rreshter i parë	Rreshter Major	Kapter	Rreshter	Tetar	Ushtar
rank	Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private

Republic of Kosovo
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Kosovo
Constitution and law
Legislature Assembly Chairman: Kadri Veseli
Judiciary Constitutional Court Kosovo Judicial Council
Executive President Atifete Jahjaga Prime Minister Isa Mustafa Cabinet
Administrative divisions Districts Municipalities
Recent elections Presidential: 2008 2011 Parliamentary: 2007 2010 2014 Local: 2007 2009 2013 Referendums: 1991 2012 Political parties PDK LDK AAK SLS VV AKR
Foreign policy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Enver Hoxhaj Foreign relations Declaration of independence Diplomatic recognition ICJ advisory opinion Accession to European Union Diplomatic missions in Kosovo / of Kosovo Brussels Agreement Belgrade–Pristina negotiations
Other countries Atlas Politics portal

Weapons and equipment

Inventory

Weapon	Cartridge	Country Manufactured	Notes	Picture
Pistols
Glock 17[24]	9×19mm Parabellum	Austria	standard side arm
Submachine guns
H&K MP5[24]	9×19mm Parabellum	Germany /  Turkey	Several Variants
Assault Rifles
H&K G36[24]	5.56×45mm NATO	Germany	Standard Service Rifle
Grenade Launchers
H&K AG36[24]	40×46mm grenade	Germany	Attaches to rifle
Armoured vehicle
Otokar Cobra [25]	Armoured vehicle	Turkey	Armoured vehicle

References

External links

• Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force
• PDF document of the Law of the Kosovo Security Force
• KSF Cleans terrain from mines