Kosovo Security Force

BELGRADE - Norwegian FM Borge Brende has urged Kosovo authorities to "refrain from transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into an armed force without a constitutional change and an inclusive political process."

BRUSSELS - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday conveyed to Pristina NATO's serious concerns over a proposed transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into an armed force.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci told Kosovo's Public Broadcaster, RTK, on Friday that he will quit if the country does not form its own regular army.

Thaci said he did not "want to lead a country that does not vote in favour of the establishment of its own army.

"If this assembly does not vote in favour [of the army bill], I will immediately resign from my position.

BELGRADE - Serbia strongly opposes establishment of a so-called Kosovo army in our southern province, Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija, said Tuesday.

The European Union fully shares the stand of NATO and the US about the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into armed forces.

Namely, the EU holds that this could can only be accomplished through constitutional changes.

Hashim Thaci says Kosovo does not have international support, "particularly of the US," to change legislation and give the KSF the competences of an army.

This has been reported by Koha Ditore, an Albanian language newspaper published in Pristina.

Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Thursday reacted to Pristina's plans to turn the Kosovo Security Force into an army.

"I urge Kosovo authorities to refrain from transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an armed force without a constitutional change and an inclusive political process," Brende said in a statement.

The transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army - an initiative launched by Hashim Thaci - "does not have international support."

Albanian language daily Koha Ditore is reporting this a day after Thaci, who serves as Kosovo president, and Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli presented a draft bill on transforming the KSF into "the Armed Forces of Kosovo."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he has "serious concerns" regarding the proposal to form an army in Kosovo.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he has "serious concerns" regarding the proposal to form an army in Kosovo.