MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER · 2019. 3. 21. · AGIM ÇEKU . MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2014 MARCH. ... MKSF Public Relations Officer,

MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2014 MARCH

MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE

Dear friends, welcome to the 25th edition of the MKSF’s newsletter. On the 17th of February, in celebration of the 6th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) together with other security institutions paraded in the Zahir Pajaziti square. It was indeed an amazing feeling seeing all citizens as an integral part of the ceremony. The ceremony showed that our nation is united and ready to support all of our future endeavors. However, I must mention that this ceremony had a historical significance because our Prime Minister declared that it was the last parade for the KSF since it will be transformed into the Armed Forces of Kosovo. We have to gradually take full responsibility for our security. Last month I had a meeting with Ambassador, United States Mission to NATO, Douglas Edward Lute and U.S. Ambassador in Kosovo, Tracey Jacobson. During this meeting we informed the American delegation about our plans for further development of Kosovo’s security sector. In February Major General Timothy E. Orr, The Adjutant General of Iowa, routinely visited Kosovo. It was an honor for me to give the Medal of Merit to Major General Orr for his significant contribution to KSF’s development. Our partnership with the Iowa National Guard goes beyond technical cooperation and stands for a real friendship and mutual respect.

Have a pleasant reading. Sincerely Yours,

AGIM ÇEKU


Kosovo Celebrates the Independence Day

On February 17, the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) along with the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Correctional Service

paraded in the center of Pristina in celebration of the 6th anniversary of the Republic of Kosovo’s independence. The KSF

was represented by the Rapid Reaction Brigade, the Operational Support Brigade, the Civil Protection Regiment, the

Training and Doctrine Command, the Ceremonial Platoon, the KSF Marching Band and Officer Cadets. Prime Minister

Hashim Thaçi, speaking at the parade said: “It is the last parade where we will see the parade of the Kosovo Security Force

with this name, and a short time separates us from the establishment of the Armed Forces of Kosovo.” Prime Minister Thaçi

pointed out that 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 and to 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,” he said. Ambassador of the United States in Kosovo, Tracey Jacobson in her speech

commended the KSF for reaching Full Operational Capability and stressed that the KSF has made impressive efforts to

recruit Kosovo’s ethnic communities. “We await further reforms, including the release of the Strategic Security Sector

Review that will deepen Kosovo’s relationships with Euro-Atlantic institutions,” said Ambassador Jacobson.


On February 21, Prime Minister Hasim Thaçi visited the Land Force Command (LFC) where he was briefed on development

and achievements of the KSF. When addressing members of the KSF, Prime Minister Thaçi pointed out that the KSF is a

success story and that its development from the very beginning has been based in the best democratic practices. “The Kosovo

Security Force can be proud of many achievements attained within its current mandate but now it is time to move on and take

full responsibility for the security of our country,” he said. The Prime Minister emphasized that development of the country’s

security sector will be done in close cooperation with Kosovo’s partners and friends whose support has been vital for the

professionalization of the KSF. The visit concluded with lunch at the LFC dining facility.

Prime Minister Thaçi visits the Land Forces

Command


Minister Çeku Meets with Ambassador,

United States Mission to NATO

On February 13, Minister Agim Çeku met with Ambassador, United States Mission to NATO, Douglas Edward Lute and U.S.

Ambassador in Kosovo, Tracey Jacobson. During the meeting Minister Çeku stressed that Kosovo shares NATO’s vision of a

Europe that is whole, free and at peace “It is in our mutual interest to achieve normalization in the Balkans and to secure

Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic future,” he said. The U.S. delegation was briefed on the Strategic Security Sector Review process

which defines and clarifies the future roles and responsibilities of Kosovo’s security institutions, and the capabilities for each.

Minister Çeku said: “We are setting the right security conditions to establish long term stability, security and peace in the

country and the Western Balkan Region”.


Minister Çeku Informs Lieutenant General Hogg

about Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic Integration

Aspirations

On February 20, Lieutenant General David R. Hogg, United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee

(USMILREP), with staff visited Kosovo and held meetings with Minister Agim Çeku and KSF Commander, Lieutenant

General Kadri Kastrati. The American colleagues were thanked for the continuous and extensive support that the USA

provides to the KSF. Minister Çeku briefed the American delegation on the progress of the Strategic Security Sector Review

and other issues related to the Kosovo’s security sector. He also informed them about Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration

aspirations and the country’s intention to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program. He asked the USA for support towards

achieving these goals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Military_Committee


Adjutant General of Iowa Visits Kosovo

On February 12, Major General Timothy E. Orr, The Adjutant General of Iowa, arrived in Pristina for his semi-annual State

Partnership Program (SPP) visit to the KSF. On his visit he was accompanied by Command Sergeant Major Rachel L. Fails,

Iowa's new State Command Sergeant Major, and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Wunn, Iowa's SPP Coordinator. CSM Fails, a

long-time friend of the KSF and Iowa's first female State Command Sergeant Major, had previously assisted with development

of the KSF non-commissioned corps. During his visit, Major General Orr met with Minister Çeku and Lieutenant General

Kastrati and received update briefings on the progress of the KSF. At the conclusion of the briefings, Minister Çeku presented

Major General Orr with the Kosovo Security Force Medal of Merit. Afterwards Major General Orr visited KSF units in

Pomazatin and Istog and observed them in training. He also visited Co B, 248th Aviation Support Battalion, an Iowa Army

National Guard unit deployed to Camp Bondsteel in support of KFOR. While in Kosovo Major General Orr had a meeting

with the new Mayor of Peja and a run and professional development workshop with KSF Officer Cadets in Germia Park. On

the 17th of February Major General Orr participated at Kosovo's Independence Day Celebration. The entire team from Iowa

greatly enjoyed the visit and appreciated the deep cooperation and friendship with the KSF and the Whole of Kosovo.


Ministry Hosts an Interagency Women’s Meeting

On February 13, the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force (MKSF) hosted a meeting of women serving in Kosovo’s security

sector. Participants included: the MKSF, the KSF, Kosovo Police, Kosovo Customs Service, Kosovo Correctional Service, and

Kosovo Probation Service. Attendees agreed that deeper interagency cooperation is needed and that there is a necessity to tell a

wider story about women’s service and their role in Kosovo’s security institutions. In an opening speech Minister Agim Çeku

expressed his satisfaction that cooperation among women of different security organizations goes deeper and has resulted in

several combined projects. He pointed out that women in the KSF play a significant role and their service, commitment and

contribution is highly appreciated. Major Remzie Zeqiraj, MKSF Public Relations Officer, gave a presentation “The

Contribution and Prospects of Women in the KSF” during which she said: “Even though service in the KSF, first, is

responsibility and challenge, we, women, take great pride in it; through uniform we are identified with the institution we serve

for, and our primary obligation is to take care for the image of the institution and represent it with dignity.”


On February 22, 25 KSF members finished a month-long training course in winter search and rescue techniques. The

theoretical training was conducted at the Training and Doctrine Command in Ferizaj whereas the practical part was conducted

in the mountains near the village Strazhe, Kaçanik municipality. During the training the KSF members had to complete the

following topics: management of search and rescue in winter; topography; first aid; and others. The practical part of the course

was very challenging to the members of the KSF. However, despite the challenges and very difficult terrain, all of the attendees

were highly motivated, engaged and all successfully completed the training course.

25 KSF Members Certified for Search and Rescue in

Winter Circumstances


On February 13, Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, Lieutenant General Kadri Kastrati along with his staff hosted 50

children of SOS Children Village from Pristina. All the children, who visited the Ministry, were born in 2008, the very year

when Kosovo proclaimed its independence. Lieutenant General Kastrati talked with the children about service in the KSF and

explained to them duties and responsibilities of KSF members. To the question of what the children would like to become when

they grow up, many of them expressed their desire to be soldiers and defend their country. SOS Children Village in Pristina

began its work in 2000 as a shelter for orphaned and abandoned children, including children with special needs. The shelter

affords them a caring family environment.

Lieutenant General Kadri Kastrati

Meets Children from SOS Village


Camp Bondsteel Public Affairs Soldiers Educate KSF

Counterparts in Photography Skills

On February 21, U.S. Soldiers from Camp Bondsteel conducted a knowledge exchange session with photographers from the

MKSF and the KSF and instructed them on basic skills with the Canon camera system. Using the photographers’ cameras as

visual aids, Sergeant Cody Barber, a print journalist with the 11th Public Affairs Detachment (PAD), went through many of the

camera’s basic functions and shooting modes. “I have never had the opportunity to teach foreign counterparts in my military

career, but being able to share my knowledge and techniques on how I shoot photos with the KSF was a unique and rewarding

experience,” Sergeant Barber said. After the four-hour class one of the students said he could already see the difference in his

photo-taking abilities. “I can see the difference in the work I have been doing and have been taught, and I know today’s training

will help us out a lot,” Sergeant Kosum Kosumi, a public affairs specialist in the Land Forces Command, said. The 11th PAD

pledged to work with the KSF photographers on a monthly basis in the future to develop in-depth skills in manual photography

and editing.


HALO Trust Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

On January 23, the HALO Trust celebrated its 25th Anniversary at the National Museum of Kosovo. HALO Trust is a well

respected British-registered Non-Governmental Organisation currently working in 14 countries around the world, specializing in

the removal of the hazardous debris of war. On the occasion of this anniversary a photographic exhibition was opened at the

Museum providing the citizens of Kosovo a unique opportunity to get a deeper insight into HALO Trust history and its mission in

numerous places that have been affected by wars and conflicts. At the event, Minister Agim Çeku gave a speech highlighting the

important work the HALO Trust has carried out in Kosovo over the last decade. “We are thankful to the HALO Trust for all the

mine and cluster munitions clearance work the organization completed in Kosovo since 1999. The number of hectares cleared

and the number of mines and unexploded ordnance destroyed speak for themselves,” said Minister Çeku. HALO has been

working in Kosovo on and off since 1999 carrying out many mine and cluster munitions clearances. It has returned several

thousand hectares of land to safe and productive use as well as removing any further threat of munitions to the population of

Kosovo. The vast majority of all clearance operations in Kosovo have been carried out by local staff. Since 2010, MKSF Mine Co-

ordination Centre harmonizes all the de-mining activities in Kosovo, including the ones conducted by the HALO Trust.

Documents

MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER · 2019. 3. 21. · AGIM ÇEKU . MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2014 MARCH. ... MKSF Public Relations Officer,