“I believe that Kosovo will use possible membership in Interpol simply to raise false indictments against citizens of Serbia who are in high positions, in order to politically balance indictments against their politicians,” said Darko Trifunovic, secretary of the Institute for Security Studies. He illustrated this thesis by the example of Momir Stojanovic, former head of the VBA (Military Security Agency), and current MP in the parliament, against whom Interpol issued an arrest warrant in February this year.
“If indictment would have grounds, the Hague Tribunal would deal with it, and General Stojanovic was in Hague only as a witness,” claims Trifunovic. As he stated, the citizens would benefit from the regulated legal systems in the region, but he stresses that admission of Kosovo to Interpol would be politically abused.
As he stated, the admission of Kosovo to Interpol is legally problematic, because members of this organization must first be in the United Nations. “The question is how the Spain or Cyprus would react if Kosovo, which they do not recognize, issue indictments against their citizens,” says Trifunovic.
Bojan Elek from the Belgrade Center for Security Policy believes that the admission of Kosovo would not change anything significant. “For now, the decision on issuing warrants must go through the UNMIK. In that sense possible joining of Interpol would increase their autonomy and give them another element of statehood. However, in regards to international police cooperation, Kosovo’s membership would not change anything dramatically,” said Elek. According to him, Kosovo’s entry into Interpol is uncertain because for the decision must vote two-third of the members of the UN General Assembly.
In February this year, Interpol through UNMIK office issued warrants for 16 Serbs from Kosovo, for alleged war crimes against the civilian population. Among them was indictment for Momir Stojanovic.
