Albania does not allow veto for Kosovo's entry into Southeast European Police Co-operation Convention

Albanian Deputy Interior Minister Besfort Lambulari attended the Committee of Ministers at the Police Co-operation Convention in Southeast Europe in Vienna, Austria.

In discussions concerning the accession clause, there were proposals to change it, while Deputy Prime Minister Lemackar expressed reservations so that the Kosovo door will not be closed in the future through the unanimous accession system of other countries' applications.

“While there are overlapsive and unclear definitions of where Southeast Europe begins or ends, the Western Balkans is certainly at the heart of this geographical space”, he stressed.

“With the accession of new countries to the Convention and ratification of the Agreement on Automatic Exchange of DNA Profiles, Dictilloscopic data and vehicles, the Western Balkans will no doubt be safer in the face of various forms of cross-border crime and heterogenic criminal groups operating without barriers in our region”, Lamhirar said.

“Taking on a common consensus and agreement on the need to further advance and strengthen police co-operation in this region, the Republic of Albania would be willing to discuss a grace-based accession clause, but making special reference to countries not included in this region”, he stressed. / ATSH/