Commander fights for protection corps’ credibility in Kosovo, internationally
By Scott Schonauer,
Stars and Stripes
PRISTINA, Kosovo — Agim Ceku knows he and the Kosovo Protection
Corps have an image problem. A big one.
Serbs have branded the commander of the 5,000-member civil defense
force a war criminal for alleged atrocities in Croatia.
And critics don’t believe the presumed disaster relief
organization — established after NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign against Yugoslavia
— really wants to fight forest fires and natural catastrophes.
Analysts assert that the organization, of which 95 percent are former
ethnic Albanian guerrillas once part of the Kosovo Liberation Army, is nothing more than a
finishing school for former rebels.
Ceku (pronounced check-koo), 41, who began his career in the Yugoslav
army and served as general in Croatia before becoming a rebel commander in Kosovo, hopes
the group eventually becomes a military defense force. But, for now, his self-proclaimed
goal is to transform the corps — more commonly known by its Albanian initials TMK
— into a respectable, professional unit.
To do that, he has demanded better support from the United Nations
Mission in Kosovo and NATO-led peacekeepers. He also has asked to increase the role of the
organization, boost its budget and have greater freedom to investigate wrongdoing by its
members.
Hand-picked by Western officials, Ceku is considered an important
figure in the two-year effort to rebuild Kosovo.
But his reign over the corps appeared to be in serious doubt earlier
this month after the United Nations suspended five high-ranking members suspected by
Washington of links to the ethnic Albanian insurgency in Macedonia.
In response to the suspensions, Ceku and his deputy, Sylejman Selimi,
offered their resignations. However, in a letter, Hans Haekkerup, the U.N.’s chief
administrator in Kosovo, refused to accept them.
Scott Schonauer / Stars and Stripes
The Kosovo Protection Corps leader, Agim Ceku, says the corps has transformed warriors
into productive civilians. Ultimately, Ceku hopes to see his corps become Kosovo's
standing military force. |
Prior to his offer to resign, Ceku talked with Stars and Stripes
about the future of the corps, its challenges and its reputation.
Here are excerpts of the interview:
SS: Tell me what the status of the TMK is — how is it
going after almost two years?
AC: Actually, it’s been a year and a half. TMK, KPC, is, as you
know, a government organization. It’s internationally recognized, established by the
international community, supported by the international community.
Up to now, we are [the] only Kosovar institution run by Kosovars and
consisting of only Kosovars. And as such an organization, we are in position to set an
example for future institutions. ... Our vision is to create a professional, civilian
organization, multiethnic organization based on Western standards and to serve all people
of Kosovo.
We have a lot left to do. But we did a lot as well. Now, I can say
that we have our organization set up. We know what is our mission. We are moving in a way
to meet the standards. We are facing a lot of problems, a lot of obstacles.
SS: Like what?
AC: Misperception. Perception and misunderstanding of the KPC. …
And it is the main battle that we are fighting. This image.
First, we are fighting within the KPC to set the example, to work
well, to operate well and to deserve respect and support of [the] international community.
We are a relief disaster organization, to respond to any disaster affecting people or
property, to assist in building society and infrastructure, to conduct search and rescue
operation, to assist in de-mining.
But the real mission of the KPC is to transform former combatants to
normal civilian life. Nobody established the KPC, the international community, because we
need an emergency service. Yes, of course, we need. But it was not the real purpose why
the KPC was established.
SS: You mentioned the perception. That the corps has had an
image problem with the international community. Yet, there has been some speculation that
corps members have been involved in the Presevo Valley, Macedonia.
AC: It’s speculation. From all the UCPMB [Liberation Army of
Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac], only two had — nobody knows exactly. They were
low-level individuals. In Macedonia, we have only my former chief of staff. Yes. But
I’m inviting KFOR [to] come. I just wrote a letter to KFOR. If you don’t believe
me, every morning we send one officer to an establishment, check everywhere. OK? Good.
SS: When — and if — Kosovo gets its independence,
what will be the future of TMK? Some people say that the KPC [TMK] has aspirations of
being a protection force, a real protection force, an army?
AC: It’s an aspiration of Kosovo people to have real army.
People recognize us as former soldiers, and I am a general recognized by the international
community as well. But in reality it is never for me or for KPC. It is something for the
Kosovo government, the international community. Even an independent Kosovo will have, will
need a civilian emergency service. Not with 5,000 I’m sure. Perhaps, very small,
professional emergency service. … If the Kosovo government — in cooperation with
the international community — decides that an independent Kosovo will have defense
forces, maybe some leaders who have experience in leading such an organization or similar
organization in the chain of command with discipline we will pick …
If somebody ask me, “How big army Kosovo need? Which kind of
army? Which values do they have to have?” I’m ready to answer. But I’m not
occupied with creating army. We still, as you can see, may be military elements in KPC,
but it’s a process. We have to go slow. We cannot cut all links.
SS: You can’t just leap from military to full-fledged
civilian organization?
AC: You have to keep members happy. Some measures you have to keep.
Some sidearms, a couple or two. I never carry a weapon.
SS: But you have a bodyguard.
AC: For example, I don’t need. ... These two guards can’t
guard my headquarters. It is not needed. But it is. ... For a lot of reasons I need to
have, to be seen to have — to make happy my members.
SS: Would you like to see TMK eventually become the army?
AC: Yes. Not only TMK. Who will be emergency service?
SS: But would you like to see it a military army?
AC: Yes, I believe in that.
SS: Will it happen?
AC: Yes.
SS: Why do you think that will happen?
AC: Because Kosovo people want it to happen. It is our will.
SS: Can you tell me what you are doing now to discourage some
of the illegal activity, from criminal activity to crossing over to Macedonia to join the
forces over there?
AC: What I am doing? First of all, we do not have the mechanism and
the authority for law and order. I can’t control my members while off the job.
SS: It’s KFOR’s job?
AC: KFOR’s job. UNMIK police job. Yeah. If they allowed me to
have my police, my intelligence, if I’m advised to do something, it would be my
responsibility. ... When I have such information from police and KFOR, I immediately
dismissed everybody or have taken action. But I do not have mechanism, instrument to go
around and check. I am not authorized. …
They say, “Law and order is not our mission. Law and order is
the authority of UNMIK police and KFOR.” You are the resident of this country, under
the same rules, and UNMIK police will take care of it.
SS: What are you doing to encourage more Serbs to join? Not
only to join but also to stay?
AC: Look, this issue depends on much more than from us. Believe me.
I’m telling you that. I know Albanians. If you are going to shake hands with an
Albanian, “Look, I want to live with you, I want to accept you, I want to accept
KPC,” there would be much more I can guarantee you. ... It’s only up to them.
They have to show goodwill. ... I mentioned several times that establishing KPC is the
best job that UNMIK and KFOR did here in Kosovo since they came.
SS: So, they did the right thing by creating it. But now they
have to follow through and support you?
AC: Yes.
SS: Give you the money. Give you the support. Let you help
them?
AC: Give us a chance. We are facing a chance. We are working but some
others in government organizations, some in UNMIK, do not want to work with us. It’s
probably the image as well, a perception. They think that by having KPC members to work in
schools they would have troubles or something ...We need a chance. KPC, my last message,
we need a chance. We need support. But to do it we need a chance.
Back to July stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from June, 2001
Stories from May, 2001
Stories from April, 2001
Stories from March, 2001
Stories from February,2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home |
