Kosovo continues to face the problem of arms without permission.
In 2018, from 32 murders, 26 were committed by firearms, a fact that represents a real danger.
Citizens should become aware of the importance of legalization of arms, and use given deadlines by the Ministry of Interior to apply. This was said at the roundtable on control of small and light arms as well as reduction of illegal arms in Kosovo.
It was also said that sustainable development cannot be reached without peace and security and that fluxes of illegal arms are among the factors that cause violence and insecurity.
Alessandra Roccasalvo, UNDP Resident Representative in Kosovo said the Ministry of Internal Affairs has the role of informing citizens of the country about the security situation.
“Small weapons are a challenge that you are facing for years now,” she said.
Izmi Zeka, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs said Kosovo said compare to the other countries, Kosovo is not doing badly on legalization of arms. Having in consideration the mentality, he said, legalization of weapons is not an easy task, as citizens hesitate to do so. “One arm legalized, one life saved,” Zeka said.
Gazmend Hoxha, Director of the Division for Public Safety said Kosovo Police has invested also on special equipment in order to combat illegal arms. “Lack of Kosovo’s membership at world security organisations such as INTERPOL, remains a challenge for us. Kosovo is not a country of weapons’ production but of their transit,” he added.
According to Besnik Sallahu head of the International Law Enforcement Coordination Unit. (ILECU) there are 260 thousand illegal arms in Kosovo.
While Alain Lapon, Principal Technical Adviser for UNDP’s Kosovo Small Arms Control Project (KOSSAC) said directive for legalization of arms is very important.
