Kosovo Academy for Public Safety signs a cooperation agreement ith the North Carolina Justice Academy of the USA

Vushtrri, October 4, 2024 - Today at the premises of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) in Vushtrri, the Cooperation Agreement between it and the North Carolina Justice Academy (NCJA) in the USA was signed. The agreement was signed by Kastriot Jashari, KAPS Acting General Director and Chris Anderson, NCJA Deputy Director for Training. Senior local and international dignitaries participated in this ceremony, such as: Jeta Tela Shema, Chief of Cabinet and Senior Political Advisor of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Edward Anderson, Director of Department for Security and Public Safety (DSPS) at the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Giovanni Galzignato, Head of the EULEX Monitoring Pillar, Enver Fejzullahu, Executive Director of the Justice Academy, and other personalities.

In his opening speech, Kastriot Jashari, KAPS Acting General Director, thanked the guest from distant America who came to Kosovo to sign this Agreement. He further pointed out that, despite the international cooperation developed at KAPS, this was the first time that the institution he leads has formalized cooperation with any institution from the USA. Speaking about the content of the Agreement, Jashari in the end pledged to implement this agreement as fully as possible. In honor of the victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and elsewhere, Director Jashari asked those present to pay a minute of silence.

From her side, Advisor of Minister Sveçla, Tela Shema firstly expressed his satisfaction for participating in this ceremony of signing this Cooperation Agreement, recognizing and appreciating the contribution of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo for the initiation and support for the cooperation between these two institutions from Kosovo and the US and mentioning the two previous mutual visits of both institutions to each-other. Tela Shema added that the situation in Kosovo is currently significantly better and more promising, mentioning important advances in the economy, development and security, thanks to local cooperation, but also the contribution of international friends and partners. Speaking about this part, she emphasized the fact that Kosovo was recently chosen 12th in the world as regarding the security. Furthermore, Tela Shema expressed her conviction in the successful implementation of this Agreement, expressing the unreserved support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs towards the fulfillment of the objectives within it by both partner institutions.

The guest from America, Chris Anderson, NCJA Deputy Director for Training paseed the best regards to the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) and the people of Kosovo in general from the North Carolina Department of Justice and the Justice. Academy He also conveyed the greetings of Mr. Allen Trevor, NCJA Director. He briefly explained the situation in the state of North Carolina and the surrounding states as a result of the destruction and damage caused by hurricane Helene, for which reason Mr. Trevor. He thanked KAPS, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the solidarity and condolences received from them. Speaking about the cooperation between KAPS and NCJA, he said that he recognizes the importance of cooperation for common benefits for both institutions. As for the achievement of this Agreement, he especially thanked the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

Edward Anderson, Director of the Department of Security and Public Safety(DSPS) at the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, expressed his satisfaction for signing of this Cooperation Agreement. He said that Kosovo being in the 12th place for walking alone at night is excellent and incredible, for which result he said that everyone has contributed: Kosovo's public safety institutions, international partners and other supportive and assitance mechanisms. He also thanked those present for a minute of silence in honor of the victims in North Carolina and the surrounding states as a result of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, expressing solidarity with the victims. He finally highlighted the contribution of public safety institutions to do their best to provide safety for the citizens of Kosovo and thanked the staff of the Department he leads for their part in this contribution.

The Cooperation Agreement between AKSP and NCJA was preceded by two mutual visits, respectively the visit by the heads of NCJA to KAPS and Kosovo in October 2023, as well as the visit by a delegation from Kosovo, consisting of officials from KAPS, other public safety institutions and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo in NCJA, respectively in North Carolina. Both of these visits, as well as the initiation of this Cooperation Agreement, has been supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, concretely the Department for Security and Public Safety of this Mission.

The agreement aims to create cooperation between both institutions to support their strategic objectives in the educational, research and development fields amongst them, while focusing on three main areas: development and coordination, research and exchange of information and results, and exchange of staff and mentoring, counseling and training support for teachers and other staff for all levels of education in the field of public safety, respectively law enforcement.