UPZ holds joint workshop between Iowa National Guard in US and Kosovo Security Force

A workshop by the Iowa National Guard (IANG) in the US and the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) took place at the “Ukshin Hoti” University in Prizren on Thursday.

During the workshop the soldiers were visited by Major General Enver Cikaçi, KSF Deputy Commander and Brigadier General Randy E. Greenwood Chief of Staff, Iowa National Guard - USA.

At the opening ceremony, the Rector of "Ukshin Hoti" University in Prizren, Prof. Assoc. Dr. Ismet Temaj, who emphasized that it is a special honor, privilege and emotion for me and the staff of “Ukshin Hoti” University to host such an important event, where the guests are American soldiers and Kosovo soldiers for which the event, we we still have fresh memories. "The deployment of KFOR peacekeeping forces and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo have been of particular importance for establishing and securing peace and establishing the cells of the provisional self-governing institutions that were crowned with Kosovo's declaration of independence. 2008. Today we see US soldiers and KSF soldiers holding training together, both very significant and exciting. Always grateful to the soldiers and the American people for what they have done and are doing for the citizens of Kosovo, ”said Rector Temaj.

The Rector, meanwhile, hosted Generals Cikaqi and Greenwood and Professor Mark Baskin, the first former UNMIK administrator in Prizren, who chaired the workshop.

They thanked Rector Temaj for the generosity of the university in supporting this meaningful partnership between the people of the State of Iowa and the people of the Republic of Kosovo.

In recognition they gave the Rector a special medal.

Rector Temaj expressed his gratitude and also presented a gratitude from UPZ for his contribution to the state and people of Kosovo.

The purpose of the workshop was to simulate a strategic planning session on peace operations from the perspective of July 1999 in Kosovo. In the program, a group of 100 participants - soldiers from the KSF and the Iowa National Guard - first met in a plenary session for an initial briefing and then distributed to 10 groups to develop planning for specific issues on the challenges they face peacekeepers in the first 120 days of a peace operation - from restoring essential services, refugee returns, human rights, war crimes, humanitarian aid, civil administration, transitional justice and more. Then, each group informs all 100 participants.

This is one of the key academic events for the Iowa National Guard's visit and cooperation with the Kosovo Security Forces in the fall of 2019.