Kurti: Integration into the Council of Europe and Interpol would benefit the citizens of Kosovo

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that strengthening the country’s international engagement is of direct importance to its citizens, particularly through membership in the Council of Europe and Interpol.

Kurti made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Diplomatic School for young diplomats, an event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora through the Kosovo Diplomatic Academy.

According to him, diplomacy, cooperation with international partners and dialogue have helped Kosovo overcome the initial challenges of state-building and become an active player in regional and international developments.

He emphasized that Kosovo represents a unique example for the exchange of experiences, as issues such as peace, security, sovereignty, development, human rights, the rule of law, international law and the role of small states are part of its experience as a state.

Kurti said that the process of integration into the European Union is continuing and that the citizens of Kosovo have already been traveling visa-free to the countries of the Schengen area for two years.

However, he stressed that the importance of even greater international integration must not be overlooked. According to him, membership in the Council of Europe would give all citizens of Kosovo the opportunity to apply to the European Court of Human Rights and benefit from the European human rights protection system.

Meanwhile, membership in Interpol, the prime minister continued, would enable Kosovo’s law enforcement institutions to exchange information and cooperate in real time with police forces around the world.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Kreshnik Ahmeti said that Kosovo’s diplomatic history reflects the country’s transformation from a people under international administration into a state represented in various countries through diplomatic and consular missions.

Ahmeti said that Kosovo has a special relationship with diplomacy and the international community. He recalled that, not long ago, the people of Kosovo lived under the administration of the United Nations, while through the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and other international organizations and missions, a large part of the world was present in the country.

Today, in the 15th year since the declaration of independence, Ahmeti said, Kosovo is present around the world through more than 50 diplomatic and consular missions in over 30 countries. He described this change as one of the best ways to understand the country’s journey.

Mirjeta Behluli, director of the Diplomatic Academy, said that the Diplomatic School has become an important tradition for the professional training of young diplomats, the exchange of experiences and the development of new professional relationships.

Behluli said that the diplomatic training program provides a valuable platform for the development of young diplomats, while the Diplomatic Academy has the institutional mission and responsibility to support the preparation and professional advancement of foreign service officials.

She added that the institution places particular importance on building capacity, improving diplomatic skills and strengthening international cooperation. So far, the Academy has signed more than 45 memorandums of understanding with diplomatic academies and partner institutions around the world.

According to Behluli, this network of cooperation demonstrates a commitment to diplomacy as a fundamental tool for dialogue, mutual understanding and international cooperation.

The theme of the 12th edition of the Diplomatic School is “Small states, smart diplomacy, security and international cooperation in times of global uncertainty.”