Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Søren Jessen-Petersen’s speech at the Kosovo Protection Corps Change of Command Ceremony
- Pristina, 10 March 2006 -Mr President, General Ceku, General Selimi, Honoured Guests, Members of the KPC, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It must be with a combination of pride and sadness that Agim Ceku stands before you today. Pride in his future responsibilities; pride at having brought the KPC so far during his command since 1999; pride at the Corps’s performance – its professionalism and dedication. And sadness that after his long service he must now bid farewell to the organisation he built from scratch, and turn his talents to new and more varied challenges.
He can feel safe, though, in the knowledge that he is leaving the KPC in capable hands. Gen. Selimi, you have been Deputy Commander of the Corps since its foundation, and you therefore know the task that lies ahead of you. You have, I know, the full trust of Agim Ceku, as well as of the KPC. I can assure you also of the support of the international community as a whole, and of UNMIK in particular. I look forward to working with you in the coming months on the many small emergencies that will inevitably arise, and on the longer-term mission of continuing the KPC’s transformation, and of ensuring its future.
Gen. Ceku; Gen. Selimi – in partnership you have made the KPC a vital part of the institutional infrastructure of Kosovo and a reliable partner of the international community. I have personally seen the KPC in action in many occasions – building bridges and roads, clearing mines, and assisting in reconstructing the lives of returnees. Most recently I witnessed the KPC’s work in dealing with the flooding. It was outstanding. For these, and many other similar achievements, the KPC, its officers, and you, Agim and Sylejman, deserve our thanks and our praise.
But, Agim, you are moving on, now, to greater things – taking with you the respect, and the affection, of all those who have served under you in the KPC. I know that on the challenges awaiting you, you will be able to bring to bear those qualities – leadership, sensitivity, steadfastness and dedication – that have served you so well here. I know too, that you will show the same commitments – to multi-ethnicity, to structural reform, to a European future for Kosovo – that you have shown throughout your work with the Corps.
General Ceku; General Selimi – you each find yourself with new challenges ahead of you. I wish you well in tackling these challenges and I look forward to working with you both, as we continue to build the future of a peaceful, democratic, multi-ethnic and prosperous Kosovo.
Thank you.
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