Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force Newsletter 2015 July
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2015 JULY MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE Dear friends, It is my pleasure to introduce you to the 40th edition of the MKSF’s newsletter. As you may have already been informed, in spring the Ministry in cooperation with the Centre for Integrity in the Defense Sector of the Ministry of Defense of Norway launched two projects aiming to enhance integrity, transparency, and good governance in the Ministry. It is worth mentioning that the projects are in line with the NATO Building Integrity Programme. In June the Ministry held a conference to discuss in depth corruption risks in the defence and security sector and how to effectively tackle this phenomenon. The conference was particularly focused on the mechanisms applicable for strengthening integrity in the MKSF. Corruption is a plague from which no society is exempt though in the Western Balkan Region it is an issue of particular concern. It is worth mentioning that the people in Kosovo rank corruption the most important problem after unemployment. Therefore the fight against corruption in the country must be of national importance and supported without any compromise by all Kosovo’s institutions. I am personally dedicated to adhering to internationally recognized principles for good governance and to raising the standards of ethics in our institution. Sincerely Yours, Haki Demolli 2015 JULY MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER Minister Demolli Meets US Secretary Of The Navy rd On the 23 of June, Minister Haki Demolli and KSF Commander, Lieutenant General Rrahman Rama, met with Ray Mabus, United States Secretary of the Navy. Minister H. Demolli thanked him for the support the United States is providing to Kosovo as a whole and to the MKSF and the KSF in specific, from strategic level and financial support, and all the way to specific programs, training, and equipment. Minister H. Demolli briefed the US delegation on the transformation process of the MKSF into the Ministry of Defence and KSF into Kosovo Armed Forces, pointing out that the Government of Kosovo has approved the Draft Law on amending and supplementing the Laws related to the creation of Kosovo Armed Forces, these yet must be approved by the Assembly. Minister H. Demolli also informed that the Ministry is working on the finalization of Strategic Planning Documents Package which provides a Recommendations Implementation Action Plan, Structure of the Ministry of Defence and Kosovo Armed Forces, and Long-Term Development Plan for the Armed Forces. Minister H. Demolli reassured the US delegation that Kosovo Armed Forces will be a multiethnic force serving all citizens of Kosovo. 2015 JULY MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER Minister Demolli Informs Kosovo Ambassadors On Country’s Challenges Towards Euro-Atlantic Integration On the 26th of June, Minister Haki Demolli at a conference of the ambassadors of the Republic of Kosovo "The position of the Republic of Kosovo in relation to regional and global challenges" informed the diplomatic staff on the KSF transformation process, Euro-Atlantic integration practices, country challenges for NATO membership, and currently existing forms of cooperation with NATO. Minister H. Demolli stressed that Kosovo’s ultimate foreign and security policy goal is integration in Euro-Atlantic organisations and added that Kosovo wants to be a constructive stakeholder in building regional peace, security, stability, and economic prosperity. “Euro-Atlantic integration is a complex process that requires comprehensive approach and close inter-ministerial cooperation,” he said. Addressing Ministry’s bilateral and regional cooperation, Minister H. Demolli said that the MKSF has signed memorandums of cooperation with 11 countries, 9 of whom are NATO member states, and is in the process of signing cooperation agreements with several other countries. He also pointed out that Kosovo has 6 security attaches, accredited to Albania, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Turkey, and USA, though in the near future it is planned to enlarge their number. 2015 JULY MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER Adjutant General Of The Iowa National Guard Visits Kosovo From the 29th of June to 2nd of July, Major General Timothy Orr, the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, visited Kosovo. During his visit, Major General T. Orr met with Minister Haki Demolli and KSF Commander, Lieutenant General Rrahman Rama, and received update briefings on the progress of the KSF and KSF transformation process in Kosovo Armed Forces as well as discussed further cooperation plans. Minister H. Demolli highly assessed the good and very intensive cooperation between the Iowa National Guard and the KSF in areas of training, education, donations, special programs, and advising. While in Kosovo Major General T. Orr visited Rapid Reaction Brigade, Operational Support Brigade, and Civil Protection Regiment as well as spoke at KSF cadet graduation ceremony at the Training and Doctrine Command in Ferizaj. Since 2003, more than 750 Iowa National Guard soldiers have deployed to Kosovo as a part of the NATO-led KFOR mission; two members of the Iowa National Guard have been posted to the NATO Advisory Team, supporting and advising the MKSF, and two members to the NATO Liaison and Advisory Team that is advising the KSF. In March 2011, the State Partnership Program with the National Guard of Iowa was established. On the 7th of July, 2013, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed an agreement officially recognizing Kosovo as Iowa's sister state partner. MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2015 JULY MKSF Is Dedicated To Strengthen IntegrityAnd Good Governance Principles th On the 30 of June, the MKSF and the Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector of the Ministry of Defence of Norway (CIDS) organised a conference “The Prospects of Building Integrity in the Ministry of Kosovo Security Force”. The conference was attended by international community in Kosovo, civil society representatives, and media. The aim of the conference was to introduce the basic principles of integrity framework on the basis of NATO Building Integrity Programme, established as a NATO discipline at the Chicago Summit in 2012. The panelists provided key findings of the integrity assessment conducted in the defence sectors of South East Europe, spoke about the state of play of the integrity in the MKSF, and provided civil society’s perspective on existing integrity framework in Kosovo. Jan Braathu, Norway’s Ambassador to Kosovo, expressed contentment with the fact that the MKSF is committed to NATO’s principles of strengthening good governance in the defence and security sector. Minister Haki Demolli in his welcome note pointed out that integrity, before all, should be understood in terms of building and developing mechanisms that enable the prevention of corruption and other misuses on duty. Minister H. Demolli stressed that: “Enhancement of MKSF integrity must not be seen only as one of the tasks that needs to be fulfilled, but as a norm and value that needs to be integrated, respected and strengthened at all levels of the MKSF and the KSF.” MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2015 JULY KSF Is Developing Strategic Communication Network In June, a Kosovar Software Development, Telecommunication, and Education Company “InterAdria” finished construction of the MKSF/KSF Strategic Communication Network (SCN) establishing a micro-wave ring connection through Golesh and FSK barracks which will provide a stable platform for KSF communication. Implementation of the SCN project will provide a unique Kosovo country wide interoperable communication system with advanced digital technology by the standards of armies of member states of NATO and other countries of the Western Balkans. This network will provide enough speed and capacity to transfer data, video, and telephone communications such as Radio; Radio Networks at strategic, operational and tactical level; Voice over IP Telephony; Video Tele Conference; and Computer Networks (Intranet and Internet). The SCN is interoperable with other Kosovo governmental agencies and partners which will provide a reliable means of inter-agency communications during training, operations, emergencies, and in the event of natural disasters. KSF Commander, Lieutenant General Rrahman Rama, thanked “InterAdria” for the excellent job with developing the KSF communication network. He also thanked the US for their financial support and guidance throughout the project. Gazmend Kajtazi, “InerAdria” President, pointed out that realizing the complex SCN for the MKSF/KSF was a task and duty which could not be completed without professional assistance of the MKSF/KSF staff. “This Network can achieve all governmental security needs in case of crisis, emergency and public safety, Integrated Command and Control, and empower Command Centre in full its strength to deliver a comprehensive response,” said G. Kajtazi, adding that “InterAdria” is fully committed to support the Kosovo Security Sector and to have more and more complex projects, through which the Company can show its ability to further develop its research and development products dedicated to security and public safety. MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE NEWSLETTER 2015 JULY KSF Pairs With Iowa National Guard To Develop Mutual Understanding Of Communication Capability From the 15th to 19th of June, the Iowa Army National Guard in support of the State Partnership