Serbia will do its utmost to prevent Kosovo's membership in Interpol, said the director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric.

"Kosovo and Metohija is now represented in Interpol through the organs of Serbia and through UNMIK. If there is a criminal who should be detained from the territory of Kosovo, that issue has already been resolved," Djuric told TV Pink.

He pointed out that "a desire to confirm sovereignty as an independent state" is behind Pristina's request for admission to that international organization.

"They would only use Interpol membership to persecute Serb citizens, people who participated in the defense of the country in 1999. They already have lists of people whom they would persecute and harass, including politicians," he explained.

Membership in Interpol enables each member autonomous action, while now, Djuric said, Pristina needs UN's approval for someone's extradition, "and there is no possibility of political persecution, which will be possible if they become a member (of Interpol)".