Agim Veliu: Mental - Problems Officials Work in Many Institutions

Interior Minister Agim Veliu has said that officials who suffer from mental problems serve in many public institutions. He made that statement during his visit to the municipality of Gjilan, a day after the tragedy that left five people dead. Accompanied by Police Director Rashit Qalaj, they have met with Gjilan municipality chairman Lutfi Haziri in the municipality facility where a news conference has been held.

Veliu during this conference has declared that officials who suffer from mental problems serve in many public institutions. He has added that it is time for reflection and that institutions must work, as well as adopt the law on early retirement.

There are problems of such nature in other areas, not only in the police, but also there are education workers, there are health workers. Police officials, however, are the biggest threat because they are also armed. It does not mean that the risk to health is not as great. Even in previous stages, I have demanded that in the field of education where I was, we have a law on early retirement of some education workers. There are those in all fields and not just in the police. We'll work very carefully to have the law on early retirement of policemen who have different needs”, he said.

The Minister of Internal Affairs has not ruled out the possibility that there will be changes to the Kosovo Police chain of command. According to him, changes will occur when the situation in this institution is scanned. “I'm dealing with job reports and assessments, and everything will be within the established rules and we will not act in any haste without the habit of setting”, he said.

At the recommendation of the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, the chain of command was suspended Tuesday in Gjilan Police. Police station commander in Gjilan, Alban Ramushi, Deputy Commander Naser Nmerman, Police station operative chief Negovan Mihajlovic and a civil staff official have been expelled for 72 hours after the tragedy that occurred in Gjilan on Tuesday.

Kosovo police have confirmed that police officer Valdete Blace, who allegedly killed two brothers and parents, has had mental problems. In a proposal for newspapers from this institution, it has long been diagnosed with such problems. This institution is officially said to have taken over the official weapon, but allegations are that the killings were still committed with the official weapon, which should not be available to this police official. The institution has confirmed that her health condition had changed her position of employment.