By Gezim Kasapolli

SLUG: Last month, UNMIK together with Kosovo’s PISG, Provisional Institutions of Self Government, launched the first in a series of TV programs called “Let’s talk” which aims OF MAKING the issue of Standards and their significance clearer to the citizens of Kosovo. Each week “Let’s Talk” will examine a new topic, outlining one of the eight Standards essential to the governing principles for the people of Kosovo. This the fifth edition of “Let’s Talk” centered on the “Kosovo Protection Corps” or KPC.

Hello and welcome to UNMIK on air.

The Kosovo Protection Corps traces its history to the now decommissioned Kosovo Liberation Army, which was disarmed and turned into the KPC in 1999 during a process formally titled – “the Demilitarized of the KLA.”

Today, the KPC, known locally as the TMK, is a civil organization that operates without firearms, and is employed primarily for rapid response in cases of natural disasters in Kosovo, as well as for emergency public safety and humanitarian aid response.

KPC General, Agim Çeku, was one of the “Let’s Talk” panel members discussing the importance of the Kosovo Protection Corps. Çeku says that the organization has learned a great deal from western countries with regards to emergency response techniques.

Agim Çeku: “For us at KPC the standard as such is nothing new since from the beginning, since the transformation of KPC we have made our goal clear and that is to build an institution, which is based on the values that are described in the 8^th Standard. We always aimed to build an institution, which is professional, disciplined and based on western standards and values and serve all citizens of Kosovo. This was our aim from the beginning and these are the values on which we want to develop our institution and we always insisted on them.”

One of the most important issues in accomplishing the goals that were set in the Standards document is the issue of recruiting other ethnic communities, aside from Kosovo Albanians.

KFOR General Steven Schook believes that all of Kosovo civil society should participate in fulfilling this standard, but that KPC leadership has a particular responsibility to do so.

General Schook: “An issue that has a considerable impact on KPC is recruiting the minorities. The riots have had influence in achieving the number of 10% of minorities in KPC especially when we talk about the Serb community. KPC should work more in achieving this standard. But firstly it has to be clear to the entire Kosovo that this is not only the responsibility of KPC. The Institutions should help, as well as Kosovo Serbs, municipal authorities, KFOR and UNMIK because this is a very sensitive issue in our path to create a multiethnic KPC. It’s not only General Çeku’s duty to attract other communities in to KPC. It’s a joint task and in order to achieve this standard we cannot expect only from him to do that, we also need help from outside to fulfill this standard.”

Zenun Pajaziti, Liasion officer between the Government and UNMIK praises the work that KPC has done and claims that this is enough reason to invest more in this organization.

Cut 2. It is very important to mention that when we talk about this standard we are very pleased to say that the set of standards, which are related to KPC, have been accomplished. We are also pleased to say that most of the sensitive issues concerning the participation of the minorities in KPC have been achieved as well as concerning the level of professionalism KPC has achieved a considerable progress. This is a very important element for the government of Kosovo in order to ask for more funds and budget for KPC in the future

The Panel Members all raised the issue of financing as a very important tool in KPC’s path to achieving its mandates.

Adrian Freer, UNMIK coordinator KPC claims that until recently this issue was not a problem but now it represents an obstacle for the future professional developments of KPC.

Reading through a translator, Freer says, “Every year KPC costs around 15 million euros, and that for the time being there are no funds since there is a lack of support for this organization.”

He says, “As a result of this through the Kosovo Economic and Fiscal Council 4 million euros of surplus from Kosovo’s Consolidated Budget were given to KPC aside from other donations that KPC receives for continuing the process of training,” adding, “The Financing is of course one of the most important issues since money is the beginning of everything and KPC needs that money to have the means to do their jobs.

The premise applying to the KPC standard states, “the KPC operates in a transparent, accountable, disciplined and professional manner and represent all citizens of Kosovo. KPC is able to conduct disciplinary measures and is financed in a completely transparent way.”

And that is all for this edition of UNMIK on Air. Thanks for listening

Each edition of “Let’s Talk is rebroadcast in Serbian on Sunday afternoons on RTK.

If you’re interested in joining our live audience for upcoming debates, please give us a call at 38 504 604, extension 5628 and “Let’s Talk.”