Kosovo, Security Force exercise with Albania army

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 14 GEN - Units of the Kosovo Security Force have successfully completed a three-day joint exercise with Albania's armed forces. Breaking the news today, Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci, quoted by media in Belgrade, said that in the exercise -- held in the area of Albania's Mount Fekeni -- "all the planned tasks were completed." The Kosovo Security Force has a civilian mandate, and authorities in Pristina, with the support of the United States and other Western countries, are accelerating the pace of its transformation into a regular army with a military mandate. This is strongly opposed by Serbia, which does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, which is still considered an integral part of its territory. Under Resolution 1244 adopted by the U.N.
    Security Council in 1999 at the end of the war, the 'only armed force authorized to be stationed on the territory of Kosovo is KFOR, the NATO Peacekeeping Force. (ANSA).