Kosovo To Have National Army By End Of 2018 - Parliament Speaker

The self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo will transform its Security Force (KSF) into a national army by the end of the year, as the Kosovar parliament will review the related bills on Thursday, Kadri Veseli, the speaker of the Kosovar parliament, said on Monday.

BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th October, 2018) The self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo will transform its Security Force (KSF) into a national army by the end of the year, as the Kosovar parliament will review the related bills on Thursday, Kadri Veseli, the speaker of the Kosovar parliament, said on Monday.

In early October, the Kosovar parliament's internal affairs and security committee approved a number of bills related to the KSF transformation into a national army, suggested by the Kosovar cabinet in September. In order to become law, the bills now need approval of the entire parliament.

"I am sure that Kosovo will have its army by the end of the year. The transformation process should be conducted in a peaceful manner," Veseli said, as quoted by the Radio Television of Kosovo broadcaster.

The US Embassy in Pristina said in early October that the United States supported Kosovo's plan to create a professional army, which will meet NATO standards, set to defend the Kosovar territory.

Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by over a hundred UN member states, while Serbia continues considering Kosovo as its territory.