Pristina Institute for Political Studies organised in Pristina today a roundtable about Kosovo’s membership in international organisations, specifically the Council of Europe and Interpol.

International relations expert, Robert Muharremi, said Kosovo’s membership in international organisations has experienced a decline in the recent years while the process of recognition has stalled. In his view, Kosovo’s Interpol membership bid has also not gone well.  “We need two-thirds of the voting members. We also have the problem with UNMIK as this mission has an agreement with Interpol and communication goes through it. UNMIK has expressed reservations regarding Kosovo’s membership in Interpol,” Muharremi noted.

Meanwhile, Veton Elshani, head of the Ministry of Interior working group for Interpol membership, said he believes that Kosovo will join Interpol at its General Assembly set to take place on November in Dubai.  “The benefit of membership is not only ours but also the region and Interpol itself. We have asked to delay the voting and defined an agenda. We are trying to send a message that Serbia would also benefit from our membership. We believe everyone will,” Elshani said. He said that without an Interpol membership, Kosovo borders will not be well-secured. He said Kosovo pulled out of last year’s membership bid because there was no institutional coordination. “Now this coordination exists and I hope and believe that this year we have realistic chances of becoming part of Interpol,” he underlined.