Корпус защиты Косово: от КЛА к гражданской службе.

Civilian emergency services organisation in Kosovo

The Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC; , TMK) was a civilian emergency services organization in Kosovo active from 1999 until 2009. The KPC was created on 21 September 1999 through the promulgation of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Regulation 1999/8 and the agreement of a "Statement of Principles" on the KPC's permitted role in Kosovo. In effect, it was a compromise between the disarmament of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which was stipulated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, and rejected by the Kosovo Albanians.

Immediately after the end of the Kosovo War in June 1999 and the dislocation of NATO forces in Kosovo, emerged the need for the definition of the KLA role in accordance with the new situation. UNSC 1244, approved in June 1999, included KLA demilitarization. Therefore, the same month, KFOR Commander, General Mike Jackson and Hashim Thaçi, as General Commander of KLA, who at the time was Prime Minister of the Provisional Government in Kosovo, signed the Kumanovo Agreement. Upon the completion of the demilitarization process, in September 1999 the UN Special Representative Bernard Kouchner signed Regulation no. 1999/8 for the foundation of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), which then is followed by the Declaration of Principles, signed by the KPC Commander and the KFOR Commander. Immediately following the approval of these acts, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) initiated the registration campaign of the KLA fighters, lasting from July to November 1999. According to IOM documents the total registration amounted to 25,723 members. A number of KLA personnel joined the Kosovo Police.