Prishtina, February 21, 2014
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, accompanied by the Kosovo Security Force Minister, Agim Ceku, visited today the “Adem Jashari” barracks of the Kosovo Security Force, in Prishtina, where he learned about conditions, achievements and general development of the KSF.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Thaci held a speech to the audience, announcing once again the news that the Kosovo Security Force will soon be renamed and reorganized as Kosovo Armed Forces.
Following is the full statement of Prime Minister Thaci:
Esteemed Minister, General Ceku,
Esteemed General Kastrati,
Esteemed soldiers, NCOs and officers of the Kosovo Security Force,
Today, it is a special pleasure and honor for me to be here amongst you, as your brother-in-arms, but also as Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.
With every passing day, the Republic of Kosovo consolidates all fields of state-building. The establishment of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces are the closing segments of the institutions that complete Kosovo’s statehood.
You have gone through several important stages, always maintaining continuity, strategic goals and achievements in the service of the citizens of Kosovo and defense of our country.
Your contribution within the framework of the Kosovo Protection Corps was praised and universally accepted, as you worked closely with experts from friendly countries to Kosovo, with NATO and KFOR experts.
The institution that you represent is the best indicator of the strengthening and consolidation of our new state. Therefore, we are proud to state that the Kosovo Security Force is truly a success story of the building and the establishment of an institution of the Republic of Kosovo.
Esteemed officers,
Kosovo’s declaration of independence and establishment of the sovereign state six years ago created the conditions for KPC to enter a new phase. Since January 2009, the Kosovo Security Force was established as a professional security force, lightly-armed, uniformed and with multi-ethnic composition.
The development, structuring and organizing of KSF, since its inception, is based on the best practices of highly developed democracies.
Kosovo, meanwhile, has opened a comprehensive perspective, marking achievements in domestic economic development, but also in diplomacy.
Kosovo has successfully completed the supervision of independence, has become a member of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and is recognized by 106 countries. Kosovo has made progress in meeting the preconditions for European integration.
Five years have passed since the establishment of the KSF, and as our state developed and became stronger, the Kosovo Security Force was established, developed and became stronger and more professional. So far, the Kosovo Security Force has conducted search and rescue operations, unexploded ordnance disposal, fire extinguishing and certain other duties of humanitarian assistance.
The Kosovo Security Force can be proud of many achievements made within its current mandate. Now is the time when we have to take full responsibility for the security of our country, and begin a new chapter.
And this will mean significant changes in the mandate, mission, size and structure of the Kosovo Security Force.
Esteemed Minister Ceku,
Esteemed General Kastrati,
Esteemed KSF officers,
As you know, during the celebrations of the sixth anniversary of the declaration of independence, I announced the next step of the Kosovo Government, for the advancement of the KSF, meaning that a very short time separates us from the foundation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo.
Kosovo Armed Forces will have all defense capabilities and will have a new mandate, size and structure. The Kosovo Armed Forces will be developed in order to be ready and capable to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo, with all necessary and indispensable options and capacities.
The Kosovo Armed Forces will protect the interests of Kosovo, its citizens and their property.
The Kosovo Armed Forces will contribute to building and maintaining regional and global stability.
The ability to defend our country and to meet our security needs is also a prerequisite for the successful integration of Kosovo into Euro-Atlantic structures.
In our journey towards the development of the New Defense Force, we will continue to cooperate closely with our partners and friends, whom I wish to thank today, for their full support in the development of the Kosovo Security Force.
Their support has been vital to the professionalism of the KSF, so advice and further assistance is needed, because the purpose and vision of the Kosovo Security Force, and tomorrow that of the Kosovo Armed Forces, will be integration in NATO. Of course, the initiation of the Partnership for Peace is a prerequisite.
Esteemed Minister of Defense, Mr. Ceku,
Esteemed General Kastrati,
All you officers and NCOs,
I can freely say that, on behalf of the Government, under the commitments we have, we are taking the most important steps and are in the final stage of instituting the Armed Forces of Kosovo.
Congratulations to you and all the people of Kosovo!
Last modified: July 28, 2022