UNMIK/PR/48

PRESS RELEASE

21 September 1999

KOUCHNER WELCOMES ESTABLISHMENT OF KOSOVO PROTECTION CORPS

PRISTINA: The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, issued the following statement today:

"This is not an end, but a beginning."

Demilitarization is not necessarily accomplished by simply dismantling military structures and collecting soldiers’ arms.  The concept of completing demilitarization through the transformation of former fighting forces is well established in peacekeeping practice, and it became an integral part of the Kosovo peace process as a result of the KLA Undertaking on Demilitarization and Transformation presented to KFOR Commander Mike Jackson in June.

In close consultation with UNMIK, KFOR subsequently developed a concept for a civilian, disciplined, uniformed and multi-ethnic emergency response service closely modeled on the Sécurité Civile of France that could provide needed emergency and other specialized services, while absorbing substantial KLA manpower and redirecting its aspirations. Yesterday, I signed UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 authorizing the establishment of such a service, the Kosovo Protection Corps. 

The Corps will provide disaster response services, including for major fires, and industrial accidents or spills; perform search and rescue; provide a capacity for humanitarian assistance in isolated areas; assist in demining; and contribute to rebuilding infrastructure and communities.

The Corps will consist of up to 3,000 active and 2,000 reserve member who will be recruited and screened on an individual basis, in much the same manner as the Kosovo Police Corps. At least ten percent of the Corps will consist of minorities.  Members of the Corps cannot hold public office or actively engage in political affairs, and are prohibited from involvement in law enforcement or the maintenance of public order. 

KFOR will provide day-to-day supervision of the Corps under policies and priorities established by UNMIK.  A transition period of at least 60 days will be required to stand-up the Corps.  These preparations include the processing of applications, the procurement of basic equipment and the development of training programs.   Taking into account among other things his enormous contribution to the successful demilitarization of the KLA, I have appointed Agim Ceku as Current Commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps. 

I look to him to lead the new members of the Corps in the footsteps of Cincinnatus, the model citizen-soldier of ancient Rome -- who left his plow standing in the field to answer the call to arms and at the end of the war refused all honors in order to return to his civic duties.

This story of the brave and honorable citizen-soldier has been repeated in virtually every nation represented in KFOR and UNMIK, including my own.  Over the centuries, we all have learned that the price of liberty is constant vigilance and readiness to sacrifice. But we have also learned that there is a time for everything, including a time for arms and a time for tools. This is the time to build Kosovo.