Kosovo premier says Kosovo Protection Corps to become Kosovo 'army' after status settled

BBCM, Jun 22, 2005, 19:00 GMT

Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive

Prishtina [Pristina], 22 June: The Kosova [Kosovo] Protection Corps [TMK] will become the army of Kosova when Kosova's final status is settled, Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi said today during a visit to the TMK Headquarters and the TMK Training and Doctrine Command Centre [TDC].

Kosumi was the first to be saluted by the TMK Ceremonial Guard, which was officially inaugurated one month ago.

After his visit to the TDC, Kosumi said that talks on Kosova's final status will begin in September. By June 2006, he said, Kosova will have a different status from its current one.

When asked by KosovaLive whether the TMK will become an army before or after the settlement of Kosova's status, Kosumi said that, "of course," the transformation should happen after the settlement. This final status, he said, will be independence.

Kosumi urged leaders at the TMK Headquarters to work on the professional development of its members, officers, and noncommissioned officers. The professional level of Kosova's army should be based on international standards, he said.

Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 22 Jun 05