Interpol to discuss Kosovo membership apllication

SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Kosovo’s application to become a member of Interpol will be discussed at the next Interpol General Assembly session in mid-November, in Dubai.

In March this year, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) Secretary General Jurgen Stock notified Kosovo officials that their Executive Board discussed the Kosovo request to join this organisation and that it was set as one of the agenda items of the next General Assembly session. The session is scheduled to take place November 18-21, in the United Arab Emirates.

Interpol’s highest body gathers once a year to make decisions regarding the organisation’s work, resources, methods, finances, program activities as well as the admission of new members.

This year, the International Criminal Police Organisation will also vote for the new President since the previous President, China’s Meng Hongwei, resigned after Chinese officials said he was under investigation.

In preparation for the upcoming General Assembly session, Kosovo’s government on Friday allocated EUR 1.2 million for the lobbying body for Kosovo’s membership in Interpol.

Last year, Pristina also applied for admission to Interpol, but Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj withdrew it a week before the General Assembly session in China due to a lack of support.