Kosovo makes another effort for INTERPOL

Kastriot Mucholli, political adviser to Kosovo Government Minister of Internal Affairs Batush Gashi, tells Radio Free Europe that Kosovo's membership in international organisations, including INTERPOL, is an irreversible and irreversible process.

Kosovo institutions, according to him, are co-ordinating actions so that Kosovo's accession to INTERPOL becomes a reality.

Kosovo is currently part of the agenda at the next meeting of the INTERPOL General Assembly, held from 18 November to 21 November 2018 in Dubai. The activities of Kosovo institutions are being co-ordinated by the inter-institutional working group. The commitments and efforts of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are comprehensive and co-ordinated at the national level and with strategic partners of the Republic of Kosovo”, Mucholi says.

Kosovo Government Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Anton Berisha, speaking of Radio Free Europe, stresses that INTERPOL membership is of particular importance to Kosovo, not only in the sense of building citizenship, but also in the sense of security.

As he says, the two dictatorships, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs are currently working closely on implementing all procedures leading to the country's membership in INTERPOL.

“We have a joint team that is fully operational and active, as well as co-ordination, so that all relevant institutions that connect with security activity are aware of our activity and will to join ( INTERPOL). We have also engaged our embassies, where they are present, so that with direct communication with ambassadors of relevant states, they can also formally broadcast Kosovo's demand for membership in this body”, Berisha says.

But what are the expectations for the necessary international support, so that Kosovo will secure the necessary votes for membership in INTERPOL during the autumn of this year?

Kosovo Government officials say it is hard to predict for the time being, though developments are positive.

Mucholli stresses that Kosovo's membership in INTERPOL would have to be seen as a contribution to security efficiency in general.

The Kosovo membership process in international security organisations is in the interest of international organisations and member states in general, and of the Republic of Kosovo, in particular,”.

Kosovo's <x0) Membership in INTERPOL and international security organisations should be seen by all as a natural and necessary process that will contribute to increased efficiency of regional and international co-operation in preventing and combating trans-national organised crime, terrorism and violent extremism”, Mucholi points out.

Deputy Prime Minister Berisha says waiting forecasts are very difficult because the current experiences have shown that situations can change beyond expectations.

Substitutes are sometimes changing in short periods. But, for now, we're on a positive trend, a good trend. There are some countries that have weight and confirmed their support, not just their own, but also their help. I believe that if we continue with this trend, we have reason to be optimistic”, Berisha adds.

Last year, Kosovo applied for membership in INTERPOL. The issue of her accession had been put into the organisation's Executive Committee agenda so that she could be voted in for her admission to the annual General Assembly of this organization, held on September 17, 2017, in Beijing. But, out of uncertainty that it would secure enough votes for accession, it had withdrawn the candidacy.