KSF

The Kosovo Security Force, KSF, will soon be equipped with American-made Armoured Security Vehicles, ASVs, the country's Defence Minister, Armend Mehaj, announced.

A total of 50 armoured vehicles will arrive in Kosovo in the coming days, while some have already been delivered, BIRN can confirm.

This was announced today by the Balkan Security Network portal, which states that "Pristina is thus trying to strengthen its armed forces and plans to procure additional combat equipment, but not offensive means or weapons of great firepower."

On the 12th anniversary of Kosovo's independence, new Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the Kosovo Security Force, KSF, and, after paying homage to war martyrs and veterans, again declared his aim to introduce compulsory military service.

Some 50,000 people marched holding a 1,919-meter-long Turkish flag in Samsun on May 14, marking the Koç Sports Fest (KSF) in the northern part of the city.

He stressed he was worried because of "the rhetoric, narrative, actions, which may be political in nature but with consequences on the security."

"The Kosovo Assembly adopted today a legislation on the Kosovo Security Force (KSF)," the EU said in a statement. "Like NATO, the EU continues to share the view that the mandate of the KSF should only be changed through an inclusive and gradual process in accordance with Kosovo Constitution."

Kosovo's parliament on Friday on a second reading approved three draft laws on the Kosovo Security Force, KSF, expanding its competences and creating a legal base for its transformation into a regular army.

The three draft laws concern one directly on the Kosovo Security Force, KSF, another on a Ministry of Defence and a third on service in the KSF.

The spokesperson of the Kosovo Security Force Ministry, Ibrahim Shala, confirmed on Sunday that an explosive device was found strapped to a tree on the property of a member of Kosovo Security Force, KSF, on Saturday evening in Serb-run North Mitrovica in northern Kosovo.

Following the resignation of a number of Serbian members of the Kosovo Security Force, KSF, the Kosovar Center for Security Studies, KCSS, has published a report blaming Serbian government pressure.

According to the KCSS, the pressure on Serbian KSF members and their mass withdrawal constituted an act of "brutal interference" by Serbia with a Kosovo state institution.

Kosovo's government on Thursday approved a new bill on the Kosovo Security Force, KSF, expanding its competences but avoiding the need for constitutional changes required to change it into a regular army. 

The proposal came from Rrustem Berisha, Minister of the Kosovo Security Force, and provides for the gradual transformation of the FSK.