At the Academy was held roundtable on topic "A decade of state, security challenges in Kosovo"

Vushtrri, 20 February 2018 - At the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety today was held a scientific roundtable on topic "A decade of state, security challenges in Kosovo", held in the framework of events and manifestations on the tenth anniversary of Independence of Kosovo.

This meeting was attended by General Director of Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Ismail Smakiqi, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Abdulselami Shkodra, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Security Force Burim Ramadani, Xhavit Shala and Besnik Shehu from Albanian Academy of Security, Arsim Bajrami and Haki Demolli professors at the University of Pristina, John Fisher associate professor at Utah Valley University, Muhaedin Bela adviser from the Macedonian Ministry of Defense, Riza Shillova director of the Kosovo Police Investigation Department, Drita Perezić Executive Advisor to MIA from ICTAP, Dean of the Faculty of Public Safety Bejtush Gashi, student, professor, representatives of public security agencies and academic staff.

Kosovo Academy Director Ismail Smakiqi said that Kosovo with ten years of independence faces major challenges of journey towards the republic with political and economic stability.

Smakiqi stated that "During these nearly nineteen years of freedom and independence ten years is going through a difficult path of building a state. There is a large number of achievements that have taken place over the years and also a large number of obligations and objectives that Kosova should fulfill to be considered a state with political and economic stability, ", also mentiong that one of the challenges that must be addressed in the future is the security challenge

Smakiqi also stated that "Public safety in Kosovo has been developed in step with the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety. This is because the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (at different stages with a different name but always with the same mission), since its foundation in September 1999 up till now, has a direct participation in public safety of our country, of course through its mission; training and education of employees in public security agencies,

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Abdulselami Shkodra during the roundtable evaluated that Kosovo despite the challenges has marked success in consolidating institutions, strengthening democracy and the rule of law.

Speaking about recognitions of the state of Kosovo and its goal of integration into the European Union, Deputy Minister Shkodra said that security policies in Kosovo are in line with European policies. "In this regard, we are committed to membership in INTERPOL and other international security mechanisms," said Shkodra

Shkodra estimated that the public security is measured by the ability of agencies and as he stated that their missions are very important.

Having expressed satisfaction with the work of agencies Shkodra appreciate that the security challenges can not be local challenge, or challenge of one country only.

He also stated that the "Strategic developments in dealing with security challenges considered that they are rather complicated and political decisions to face the security challenge should be based on departmental analysis that has the scope of data processing in the security field as well as on studies and research scientific literacy of the Institute of Security Studies, Shkodra said, saying that the mission of the Academy in the training and education of law enforcement officials is developed with contemporary programs accredited by professional and independent accreditation agencies. "Crimes that law enforcement institutions are facing are constant; organized crime, corruption, various trafficking, then violent extremism, the threat of terrorism, cybercrime and other crimes known to the public, ", and also mentioned that the security challenges have to do with fighting these phenomena.

Whereas, Burim Ramadani Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Security Force said that the most important part for Kosovo in this decade remains the focus on the consolidation, advancement and professionalism of security and law enforcement institutions.

Ramadani stated that "There is no dilemma that the most important part of the whole story for Kosovo in this decade of the declaration of independence remains our focus on consolidating and concluding national security architecture, rounding off the strategic security framework, continuing or advancing the professionalism of security institutions and law enforcement, "
 
Ramadani talking about the importance of security inside and outside the country stated that there can be no security without cooperation.

Ramadani also stated that "Interstate cooperation in the field of security, defense and foreign policy is very important and I believe that Kosovo has shown its readiness to achieve interstate cooperation,"

He stated that it is important for Kosovo to be included in the Partnership for Peace program on the basis of the specialized military fields that Kosovo has and in the meantime also be invited to join peacekeeping missions through various crisis in the world.

Whereas, Arsim Bajrami as a professor at the University of Prishtina have congratulated the Academy for its achievements, during the roundtable has talked about the journey and the challenges that Kosovo had until the declaration of independence and the challenges that remains in the state building.

Professor Bajrami said that despite the challenge Kosovo's independence is a work done, and according to him unfinished work is a building state.He said building state has three main challenges, the first challenge as he said is the extension of Kosovo's jurisdiction, constitution and legislation in northern Kosovo."For me, the first challenge of the state building of the Republic of Kosovo is the full extent of jurisdiction in the whole territory of Kosovo", Bajrami said. The second problem, Bajrami has also described the formation of the army, saying that this process is being unduly delayed, while the third problem that the state faces according to him is the political crisis.

Also, Professor Bajrami has mentioned the three challenges that await Kosovo in the future as they are; fighting negative phenomena, crime, corruption, organized crime etc. "Rule of law remains the main challenge of the Republic of Kosovo," and also saying that other challenges are good governance and integration to EU and NATO .

John Fisher associate professor at the University of Utah Valley during his presentation about the security issue congratulate the Academy through education of law enforcement is offering a better security for the country. Fisher spoke about the types of threats that cause unsafe.

Fisher also talked about the qualities that revive society as they are; reflective society, knowledgeable ability, power to manage security in different situations such as fires, earthquakes, etc.

Before the audience spoke also Prof. dr. Xhavit Shala from the Tirana Security Academy, on the topic "Successful construction and good governance in the face of the Serbo-Russian threats for the failure of the state of Kosovo". Professor Shala said of the dangerous Serbian-Russian claims to declare Kosovo's independence as a failed state.
Professor Shala also stated that "We can consider Kosovo in the process of state formation and state building as part of the mission and the centuries of efforts of Albanians to realize their vision of having the state alongside the civilized world,"

He further added that Kosovo has established the basic institutions of an independent and sovereign state, institutions politically legitimized through a fair and free, election process.

Shala stated also that  speaking of security, he added that Kosovo security is a common process of KFOR and Kosovo security institutions. "KFOR has the direct responsibility to protect Kosovo from external threats, while guaranteeing internal security has almost passed the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo,"

At the end, Shala said that in this 10th anniversary of independence, the state building process in Kosovo has managed to fulfill the essential functions of survival in the area of security, rule of law, income security, political legitimacy, and has made visible progress in meeting the level expected state functionality.

Professor Haki Demoli spoke on the topic "The phenomenon of terrorism as a challenge for security and state building of Kosovo" for the dangers of this phenomenon not only in Kosovo, but across the globe.

Demolli also described Kosovo's situation regarding the security situation in the country.

Demolli stated that “Terrorism is considered one of the most serious problems not only for the country, not only for international security, but for the lives of people all over the world,", mentioning also that recent terrorist attacks in the world have increased compared to previous years. Demolli estimated that the measures taken by the Kosovo government in combating terrorism are legislation, the establishment of mechanisms for the prevention and combating of terrorism, planning for prevention of terrorism and concrete activities for the prevention of terrorism.

The director of the Kosovo Police Investigation Department, Riza Shillova, also said that the tenth anniversary of the Republic of Kosovo is also linked to the overall progress of the Kosovo Police as well as the various challenges that have been facing during different time periods.

Speaking about the challenges of the Kosovo Police, he added that after the declaration of Kosovo's independence, the result of police engagement during this period has been highly appreciated, where a peaceful security situation has been achieved by eliminating various provocations, particularly in the north Kosovo and the border area.
Shillova also spoke about the challenges and commitments that have led Kosovo Police both in terms of legal, organizational, aspect of public, national, technical, aspect of international cooperation etc.
Shillova also stated that "Kosovo's police along with challenges or challenges has grown and developed and has been professionally established to take on the responsibilities that belong to them for providing security for all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,"

Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty of Security Bejtush Gashi said the world in no case was safe for small states, because history has shown that great powers are very easy to manipulate with these states both economically and by military side. "While a small state is unable to withstand a conflict with its own forces, the only way remains the diplomatic struggle to avoid or reduce the risk of conflict,". Gashi stated that one of the ways to avoid uncertainty for small states it is their association in international institutions and diplomatic partnership with the powerful states. Gashi also stated that "For the small states of the Western Balkans, which includes the Republic of Kosovo, there is only one strategic choice, and it is" Euro-Atlantic integration ",

Also, Dean Gashi added that the policy of cooperation and integration into international security institutions, with special emphasis on NATO integration as a means of achieving stability in the country and the region, constitutes the fundamental strategic objective and solution for Kosovo's security and the protection of national interests .

Speaking about security challenges, Dean Gashi said there are many, some of which have a direct impact on security, while others have indirect influence.Finally Dean of the Faculty of Security Bejtush Gashi gave some insight into the security issue; The security environment is constantly changing as a result of political changes; small states such as the Republic of Kosovo to ensure peace and stability should use the strategy of separating and balancing state powers, the state should invest more in the fight against corruption, illegal trafficking, organized crime and terrorism, legal infrastructure in the security field should be complemented and compatible with the legal infrastructure of EU member states, especially under the legal acts.

"As far as state security is concerned, I consider that diplomacy is the safest way to cope with external threats. While a state is unable to withstand a conflict with its own forces, the only path remains diplomatic to avoid war lower the risk of conflict, "Gashi concluded.


The meeting was greeted also by Colonel Muhaedin Bela, Advisor to the Ministry of Defense of Macedonia, who stressed the emphasized the importance of Macedonia and Kosovo NATO integration and provided the opportunity for realization of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) from the Utah Valley University, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States.