PRISTINA (AA) – Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that they will establish a gendarmerie, citing the increasing paramilitary threats, arms and goods smuggling and terrorist attacks, especially in the north of the country in recent years. At the press conference held with Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla, Prime Minister Kurti listed the armed groups with increasing paramilitary structures in the north of the country and the smuggling of weapons and goods that threaten public security along the border line among the main security threats.
Kurti stated that armed groups threaten Kosovo’s sovereignty and emphasized that the use of modern technologies and especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) increases security risks. Stating that the Kosovo police are carrying out extraordinary work, Kurti noted that, despite this, the police force has limited authority to ensure public order, prevent and investigate crime. Kurti emphasized that attacks against Kosovo institutions and international institutions working in the country have increased in recent years, especially in the north of the country.
Stating that paramilitary groups with heavy weapons, military operation capacity, UAV and anti-UAV systems have exceeded standard police facilities, Kurti said that these structures pose a serious threat to Kosovo’s sovereignty and citizens. Kurti stated that they will establish a gendarmerie organization to combat these threats and that this will fill the gap between the police and the Kosovo army. Stating that the new structure will be responsible for the security of the country’s borders, Kurti said that the gendarmerie will undertake the duties of carrying out operations against terrorism and armed groups, combating border smuggling, managing high-risk situations and protecting critical infrastructure.
Kurti stated that similar structures have been operating effectively in countries such as Turkey, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal for many years, and noted that the Kosovo model will be created in accordance with the country’s conditions and constitutional system. Prime Minister Kurti stated that the establishment and functioning of the gendarmerie will be regulated by a special law to be adopted by the Kosovo Assembly.
Minister of Internal Affairs Sweden also announced that they established a working group to analyze the methods and make suggestions for the establishment of the gendarmerie. Sveçla stated that the organization will be established as a separate unit within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
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