Austria backs Kosovo membership in Interpol

The meeting discussed co-operation between the two countries in building security institutions, including police co-operation, co-operation in fighting organised crime and corruption.

On this occasion, Gashi noted the support Austria's pre-war state has given to diplomatic missions and its post-war presence in many areas, especially in the area of security and in continued support for membership in security organisations.

Kosovo's „Membership in security organisations, especially INTERPOL membership, is a top priority of mine, which would enable Kosovo to contribute to regional and global security, so that it can be an active part of the exchange of information for “, he stressed.

At the meeting, it was stressed that Kosovo police have co-operated operationally with Austria's Police on many occasions, especially in cases of trans-border organised crime, narcotics trafficking, smuggling of migrants and cyber crime.

I thank Austria for the extraordinary contribution it has made to the Republic of Kosovo in the area of strengthening our institutional capacities in fighting corruption. As for the institutional aspect, such as MPB, some services have digitised and others are under way, which have little direct impact on stopping corruption“, the interior minister said further.

While Austria's Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Caroline Edtstadler, stressed that Kosovo is an important partner and across the western Balkans is very important in the security perspective.

The Austrian official stressed that her country supports Kosovo's accession to INTERPOL.