Executive Council of the Action Teams for Community Safety held its regular meeting
Vushtrri, 18 September 2018 – Organized by the International Criminal Investigative Training and Assistance Program (ICITAP), the Executive Council of Community Safety Action Teams, today in the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) held its regular meeting where it was discussed on the prevention of extremism and domestic violence.
In this meeting besides the community safety action teams from all municipalities of Kosovo were also attended the Minister of Internal Affairs Bejtush Gashi, Mayor of Vushtrri Xhafer Tahiri, General Director of Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Ismail Smakiqi, Manager of ICITAP Program Kimberly Riffe, Chief Executive of Kosovo Police Inspectorate Miradije Kelmendi, Director of Regional Police Directorate in Mitrovica Afërdita Mikullovci, Senior Advisor at ICITAP Drita Perezic, Lulzim Fushtica National Coordinator for the Strategy for the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Radicalism 2015 / 2020, as well as senior officials from Kosovo institutions.
Minister of Internal Affairs Bejtush Gashi during the meeting said that as ministry are maximally engaged in fulfilling the obligations and creating a safe environment for the citizens of Kosovo.
"We are aware of the difficulties, overall this, activity and your commitment is giving more and more results every day. Your daily engagement and safety related concerns make family and neighbouring lives and the community you live in happier. It is also inspiring to see reports and cooperation between the police and the community, which gives direct results to the safety that, is of interest to all", Gashi said, saying that when there is cooperation problem solving is easier.
Thanking all municipalities and the Director General of the Academy Ismail Smakiqi for continuously support these activities, Minister Gashi said that ICITAP has been and remains one of the most important actors for the ministry and police.
"This program is one of the many examples of this cooperation, we have also other partners that assist the ministry such as the OSCE, UNDP," Gashi said, saying that one of the most worrying we are facing is the problems related to the financing of these activities.
Mayor of Vushtrri, Xhafer Tahiri thanking ICITAP for organizing this activity said that he is working for a safe environment for all citizens of the municipality.
Chairman Tahiri thanking Director Smakiqi for providing conditions for the development of these activities that are of interest to the citizens said that this contribution in fighting this phenomenon is very important.
"Topics such as violent extremism, domestic violence or other important topics to be addressed today are important, can not be confronted with them only institutions are indispensable commitment of all because of the violent extremism suffer everybody. The contribution of each member of the community is vital for us as a society to be successful in dealing with these phenomena not only in Kosovo, today violent extremism is a phenomenon that disturbs all modern societies", said Tahiri
On this occasion, chairman Tahiri offered full support to the Executive Council and the community safety action teams in municipality.
Meanwhile ICITAP Program Manager Kimberly Riffe thanking all supporters for the realization of this activity said the purpose of the meeting is to help the community in solving problems in preventing domestic violence.
The General Director of the Academy Ismail Smakiqi also provided maximum support, saying that the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety is pleased to be host to the activities of the Community Safety Action Teams.
"The Academy's mission is to provide training and higher education for law enforcement, but the Academy is ready to provide support to each and every one to work for the country's security. The Academy has experience of cooperation with communities that are supported by our partners ICITAP and OSCE etc. We as Academy staff have been and are ready to cooperate with communities to prevent extremism and domestic violence", Smakiqi said, saying that the Academy will continue to support these activities in the future.
Director of Regional Police Directorate in Mitrovica Aferdita Mikullovci said that Kosovo Police is committed to providing safety to all citizens indiscriminately.
Mikullovci said that police through various organizations and activities are making efforts to prevent extremism and domestic violence.
Chief Executive of Kosovo Police Inspectorate Miradije Kelmendi said that PIK has good cooperation with all institutions where through joint events there have been numerous meetings to provide citizens with opportunities to present their concerns. "We are interested to continue the cooperation in the future", said Kelmendi.
Lulzim Fushtica national coordinator for the strategy to prevent violent extremism and radicalism 2015/2020, thanking ICITAP and all international actors for support spoke about the content of this strategy
Fushtica said that seeing that radicalism and violent extremism leading to terrorism has emerged as a global threat, Kosovo has not remained immune to global challenges and risks such as violent radicalism and extremism.
Considering as an important step the introduction of this strategy to maintain safety in the country, Fushtica said that to prevent violent radicalism the government will cooperate with partners in the country, the region and beyond.
Stating that the strategy contains many activities related to the prevention of violent extremism, Fushtica said that in cooperation with the Ministry of Education will be trained 22 teachers for the early identification of radicalism.
"Nothing can be done without a triangular support, such as government, local institutions and police", said Fushtica.
Those present, those who are facing the fight against extremism and the prevention of domestic violence, also thanked the ICITAP High Councillor Drita Pereziç.