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.
On March 19, 2008, United States President George W. Bush authorised military aid to Kosovo Security Force in another step to establish formal relations with Kosovo.
On January 4, 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 January 21, 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. Additionally Italy, Portugal and other NATO members are to help the KSF by donations and training. Slovenia donated €30,000 towards the establishment of the KSF.
In addition, NATO established a NATO Advisory Team (NAT) to mentor and advise the Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force in its oversight of force operations. The NAT was composed of uniform and civilian area experts from several NATO and non-NATO nations.
The following senior officers took their oaths on June 16, 2009, under the supervision of then KSF Commander Lieutenant-General Sylejman Selimi:
- 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 September 15, 2009, the Kosovo Security Force officially began the work, with its initial operational capacities after an eight month training with NATO instructors.
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 November 22, 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.
Read more about this topic: Kosovo Security Force
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