Kosovo: ICITAP Recognized by Leaders at 20th Anniversary Ceremony of Kosovo Police

On September 6, the Kosovo Police commemorated their 20th anniversary with a grand ceremony attended by over a thousand people. Numerous foreign dignitaries, including from the U.S. were present. Remarks were delivered by the President of Kosovo, the Prime Minister, the Head of the Kosovo Assembly, the Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, the U.S. Ambassador, and the OSCE Ambassador. In his remarks, the Kosovo Police General Director expressed his appreciation to the international agencies including ICITAP, OSCE, EULEX, and KFOR for their contributions and assistance since the KP was established in 1999.  The KP General Director recognized U.S. government representatives in attendance to include ICITAP’s Principal Deputy Director, ICITAP’s Attaché in Kosovo, ICITAP’s Attaché from Albania, along with representatives from the FBI and DEA. In his remarks, the U.S. Ambassador said “the United States is proud to play a role in the development and professionalism of the Kosovo Police. We can point to the Kosovo Police – a professional organization with representation from all of Kosovo’s diverse communities – as one of the great success stories of the past two decades in Kosovo. Today Kosovo citizens rate their Police as the most trusted institution in the country”. The KP General Director presented ICITAP-Kosovo’s Attaché an award in recognition and sincere appreciation for the valued partnership, continuous support, and contribution ICITAP provides to the KP. The President of Kosovo invited ICITAP-Albania’s Attaché to the stage and presented him the most prestigious “Presidential Medal for Security,” crediting him as being the Architect of the Kosovo Police (1999-2007). The Kosovo Academy for Public Safety is recognized as the first and only law enforcement in the world to receive international accreditation from the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards & Training (IADLEST). ICITAP’s support of the Kosovo Police is with the support of and in coordination with the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).