At the academy graduated 41 generation of the Kosovo Correctional Service

Vushtrri, 30 July 2019 – At the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) today has graduated 119 cadets of the Kosovo Correctional Service.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri, President of the Prosecutorial Council Bahri Hyseni, Director General of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Ismail Smakiqi, Director General of Kosovo Police Rashit Qalaj, Director General of Kosovo Correctional Service Nehat Thaqi, Chief of the Kosovo Police Inspectorate Miradije Kelmendi, Director General of Kosovo Customs Bahri Berisha, Representative of the United States of America Embassy in Kosovo Methew Jones, Deputy Director General of Emergency Management Agency Shefki Abdullahu and representatives of local and international institutions.

In his speech, Minister Tahiri emphasized that part of his legacy, besides the vital laws for the citizens, is precisely the advancement in the correctional system of the Republic of Kosovo.

"Infrastructure has marked a complete improvement and continues to improve today. New centers have been opened and old ones have been renovated. We have efficient management of standard operating procedures, and we have reduced for the first time to a full level, negative phenomena inside the prisons. Today Correctional Centers are not even close to what they used to be, and we have put them in an irreversible course towards advancement, standards and observance of the law, "said Minister Tahiri.

Minister Tahiri congratulates the new generation of cadets, urging them to commit to the implementation of the law.

"Likewise it will be defined by your dedication to giving man the dignity they deserve, despite the fact that he is held in correctness. And in the midst of this work, your dedication is the one that will make the difference in our Correctional Centers and will be a reference to the rule of law, or its degradation. Therefore, in the end, wishing you success in career, advancement and professional development in the future, I invite you to give your best to this important segment of law enforcement and a meaningful, efficient and responsible dimension ", said Minister Tahiri

Director General of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety Ismail Smakiqi expressed his happiness that the newly graduated cadets of the Kosovo Correctional Service are the first to complete a professional program validated by the National Qualifications Authority. Smakiqi said that these programs were designed based on the competencies needed for the professional work of law enforcement in their workplaces..

"This ceremony is listed in the next event which marks the history of the Academy, because the 119 cadets of the Kosovo Correctional Service are completing a Professional Program validated by the National Qualifications Authority at the Accredited Academy - the institution responsible for providing of these trainings for all public safety institutions ”, said Smakiqi.

Director Smakiqi congratulating the Director General of the Kosovo Correctional Service Nehat Thaqi on the completion of the Professional Training of 119 Correctional Officers said: “Dear Mr. Thaçi, I invite you and colleagues of the agencies to work together in raising the quality of training at the Academy with the final aim of increasing the security services for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo”.

General Director of the Kosovo Correctional Service Nehat Thaci said that is the great duty and the responsibility to serve the country.

"Being a member of the Kosovo Correctional Service in addition to being a privilege to serve the country, it is our duty to serve for safety by guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens of the country, including those deprived of their liberty by respecting Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo ", said Thaçi, saying that the work of members of the public safety is a sacred work.

"With our work and dedication together we will raise the image of the Kosovo Correctional Service", Thaçi said.

Cadets at the graduation ceremony were also greeted by the representative of the United States Embassy in Kosovo Methew Jones, who congratulated the Kosovo Academy and Correctional Service on the graduation of the forty-one generation of correctional officers. Jones recalled the time of the establishment of the Academy with the first generations of Kosovo Police cadets and the progress achieved over the years at the Academy and the Public Safety Agencies.