Kosovo Security Force ready to join allied armies in NATO alliance: President

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The Kosovo Security Force (FSK) is ready to join other allied armies in the NATO alliance, President Vjosa Osmani said Monday.

"To get to this point, a lot of blood has been shed so that Kosovo has its own army. Therefore, I am convinced that each and every soldier wears this uniform more proudly and is ready to give his life for the motherland if necessary,” Osmani said at an event at the Adem Jashari Barracks in the capital Pristina.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci and military and diplomatic representatives.

The guests examined some of the military equipment on display at the barracks.

Osmani added that the FSK is a proven force and is serving in peacekeeping missions with allied armies in various countries around the world.

Kurti emphasized that the government focused on the Ministry of Defense and doubled its budget in less than three years.

"We almost tripled the investments in armaments and more than quadrupled the number of our officers and soldiers trained abroad. In less than 32 months, we sent 1,459 soldiers and officers abroad,'' he said.

The FSK traditionally opens its barracks across Kosovo to the public on Nov. 27.

The FSK was established in 2009 to provide crisis management operations in Kosovo and beyond the border and to serve in civil defense operations in the country and in natural disasters and other emergencies.

Kosovo started the process of transforming it into the armed forces with legal changes in 2018. The process is expected to take 10 years.