The Kosovo Police has responded to media reports claiming that the United States has “sanctioned” this institution, stating that training has not been interrupted at any time and continues to take place, with the U.S. being a key supporter in providing these trainings to the Kosovo Police.
In a statement, the Police emphasizes that from 2022 to 2024, 230 trainings have been conducted both domestically and internationally.
“The Kosovo Police, with the aim of accurately informing the public and citizens, announces its plans and police commitments in the field of training and professional development, which cover various police areas. As part of the Strategic Development Plan 2021-2025, one of the objectives is to enhance human resource capacities through various trainings conducted within and outside the institution, including trainings offered by various local and international partners, among them key strategic partners like the United States,” the statement reads.
It is noted that the Kosovo Police, since its establishment until today, has carried out trainings at various levels, in cooperation with its partners both within and outside Kosovo, which have not been interrupted at any time and continue to be conducted.
“One of the key supporters and partners in providing trainings within the Kosovo Police, as well as sending officials for training abroad, has been and continues to be the United States, which has conducted over 250 trainings within and outside the country during the years 2022-2024, with more than 2,300 participants from the Kosovo Police, including elite units of the KP,” the police statement mentions.
According to the statement, the Kosovo Police has continuously nominated officials for participation in trainings in the U.S., and it maintains “extraordinary relations” with the U.S. and their embassy in Pristina.
“The trainings offered by the U.S. have primarily been conducted by agencies such as OPDAT, ICITAP, DEA, ILEA, FBI, the George Marshall Center, ATA, and the American KFOR, among others. These trainings have also included special units of the KP, where in 2024 there has been an increase in trainings offered by the U.S. For participation in trainings in the U.S., the KP has continuously nominated its officials for participation this week as well. The Kosovo Police continues to have cooperation and extraordinary relations with the U.S. and the American Embassy, which have consistently invested significantly in the Kosovo Police through training, expertise, and logistical and technological equipment,” the statement says.
The Kosovo Police emphasizes that it takes seriously the statements related to the American Embassy in the field of security and maintains constant contact, adding that the Kosovo Police is ready to take all necessary actions to eliminate any possible misunderstandings.
“Moreover, the KP takes the American Embassy’s statements regarding security and the KP institution very seriously and maintains continuous communication with them to clarify everything that may have led to this perception and conclusion about the KP. The KP takes this matter seriously and is prepared to proceed with whatever is necessary to eliminate any possible misunderstandings and to preserve our extraordinary partnership with the U.S. The Kosovo Police is guided by the principles of accountability and transparency and is open and ready to provide the general public and media with official information and statistics regarding trainings,” the Kosovo Police statement concludes.
