North Macedonia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Pançe Toshkovski, has announced that the joint border control system, known as “One Stop Shop,” will begin operating in April at the Bllacë border crossing, which connects North Macedonia with Kosovo, reports RFE.
According to Toshkovski, the system will streamline border procedures by allowing citizens of both countries to be inspected by a single customs officer, reducing waiting times and facilitating smoother cross-border travel.
“As part of a shared cloud platform, data will be exchanged between the respective ministries, enabling entry into North Macedonia and Kosovo through verification by a single police officer,” Toshkovski explained.
During a visit to the Bllacë border crossing, accompanied by North Macedonia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Izet Mexhiti and Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla, Toshkovski expressed confidence that the system would be operational by next month at the latest.
Sveçla emphasized the importance of expediting the testing phase:
“For citizens of both countries, it is crucial to have a faster border crossing. For state authorities, ensuring security is equally important. We are leveraging the latest technology to minimize bureaucracy, but not at the expense of security—rather, to improve efficiency,” he said.
Arrest Sparks Controversy Over Serbia’s Interpol Warrants
The Bllacë border crossing has recently faced long queues on both sides, and efforts to establish joint border control began in June 2024.
The crossing also gained attention on February 15 when a Kosovo citizen was arrested under an international warrant issued by Serbia through Interpol. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić stated that the suspect was wanted for alleged war crimes committed in Kosovo in 1999.
North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister Izet Mexhiti clarified that authorities were ensuring such cases are handled in accordance with legal procedures and international standards.
“When there are Interpol requests from Serbia, many European countries and those in the region do not enforce them, given the existence of the Special Court for Kosovo. The period of 1999-2000 falls outside the scope of other investigations,” Mexhiti stated.
Reports from North Macedonian media initially claimed the arrested individual was a former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) soldier from Ferizaj. However, Mexhiti dismissed these claims, stating:
“It is evident that Serbia misuses Interpol, frequently updating lists based on its daily political interests. The arrested Kosovo citizen is not a former soldier, as he was in Germany during that period. We are in contact with the relevant authorities to resolve the case and secure his release as soon as possible.”
Calls to End Enforcement of Serbian Interpol Warrants
The arrest prompted reactions from the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), which urged the North Macedonian government to review its enforcement of Interpol warrants issued by Serbia.
Last summer, North Macedonian authorities also detained former KLA member Blerim Ramadani under a Serbian warrant. Ramadani, accused by Serbian authorities of war crimes in the Nerodime region in 1999, later escaped from house arrest, triggering a backlash from Serbia.
At the time, Serbian Interior Minister Dačić called Ramadani’s escape “scandalous.”
Meanwhile, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski suggested during a November visit to Prishtina that Skopje might stop enforcing Serbian-issued Interpol warrants. However, Justice Minister Igor Filkov later clarified that Mickoski’s statements were “misunderstood” and that Interpol warrants from Serbia would remain enforceable in North Macedonia.
