UNMIK/FR/0057/01
FEATURE RELEASE - 20
July 2001
Kosovo Protection Corps
No Lack of International Support for the KPC
By Sheida Sheikhi
International support towards the KPC does not appear to be attenuating
despite President Bush's issuance of an executive order that included
five KPC officials deemed both a threat to regional peace and stability,
as well as to United States interests in the Balkans. The impact of the
five KPC senior members' suspension by UNMIK and KFOR was such that the
KPC Commander Lieutenant General Agim Ceku was prompted to offer his resignation.
But UNMIK and KFOR stressed ongoing support for the KPC, whilst calling
for individual punishment for the guilty.
In the days following the publication of the 'U.S. Black List', Lt. General
Ceku quickly imposed his disciplinary measures: a written warning, no
promotion for at least a year, and a 25 per cent salary cut for the five.
For the international presence in Kosovo this was a little more than a
slap on the wrist. The SRSG's rejection of General Ceku's resignation
was followed by a joint announcement with KFOR that the five would be
suspended immediately and an investigation was launched.
KPC regards itself as intrinsic to society
Local reaction has varied from depicting the suspended five as war heroes
-- glorifying them on posters -- to a prominent newspaper editor asking
the question that no-one else is posing publicly: 'What will happen to
the KPC?' UNMIK and KFOR have, in effect, given their answer: 'Nothing',
and have united to reassure their continued commitment to the KPC. The
latter's image, now that a few of its members have been suspended, is
perhaps all the stronger.
Konrad Wudtke, Operations Officer at the Department of Civil Security
and Emergency and Preparedness, believes "the KPC has a strong structure
which is functionable for the future", adding that current problems
are due to the difficulties in setting up a new organisation. He explains
that the KPC needs to be properly trained for its stipulated role: "It's
a question of communication and coordination," he says.
UNMIK and KFOR's reasoning behind the suspension was the seriousness of
the allegations made by the United States government which could not be
ignored. In this respect, the suspensions can be seen as a sign of support
for the KPC's future existence. For as Ian McNeill, KPC Coordinator, comments:
"The KPC regard themselves as an integral part of the fabric of the
society to which they belong and they are part of Kosovo's future."
2/…
Individual not collective responsibility
UNMIK sees the issue of being one of individual versus collective responsibility.
The fact that individuals were punished is enough: the institution should
not suffer as a result.
Certainly, as McNeill reaffirms, the KPC leadership recognises that there
are areas which need improvement such as in personnel management, budgetary
control, logistics and general administration. Moreover, the technical
and specialist skills of the rank and file membership need to be improved.
Thus UNMIK is actively looking at collaborative projects which can capitalize
on KPC skills and competencies -- whether they be in co-operation with
local municipalities or KFOR. In the Peja region, for example, KFOR soldiers
are working alongside KPC members constructing an 11-km long road. In
Pristina, KFOR organized an exercise: KPC members witnessed first-hand
how the army reacts to civil emergencies allowing them to better understand
the role of an emergency service corps.
Such exercises show what McNeill perceives as a "need to achieve
further professionalism to upgrade the Corps's competencies at the organisational
level, first at HQ, then throughout the KPC by allowing improvements to
cascade downwards."
Now that the initial storm clouds in the form of the 'U.S. Black List'
have passed the corps is still standing on terra firma. The message: the
blacklist never implied a need for any wholesale clean out of the Augean
stable, but a sharp reminder that, in a disciplined organization which
considers itself a significant part of Kosovo's future, its leadership
must meet and maintain high standards.
Note for editors
The full document may be
consulted online in English at http://www.unmik.org/. Albanian and
Serbian versions can be provided.
For a selection of photographs, please contact Mr Ky Chung at 038 504-604 ext. 5467
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Showing the flag for KPC reform |