Speeches

AMBASSADOR TINA S. KAIDANOW
 REMARKS  
   UPON THE USG DONATION CEREMONY
   THE CIVILIAN POLICE INTERNATIONAL HQ
 MAY 28 2009  

Minister Kelmendi, Minister Pajaziti, ladies and gentleman: 

Thank you for joining us here today.  This is a good day, as I have the pleasure of presenting equipment valued at more than $430,000 to Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Internal Affairs.  This equipment—which includes two fully-equipped ambulances, thirteen other vehicles, ten fingerprint kits, six digital cameras, and assorted office equipment—will provide your ministries with additional resources to serve and protect the Kosovo people and to enforce the rule of law throughout the country.  It is my privilege, on behalf of the United States government, to provide this gift to Kosovo.

This donation also marks an important transition in U.S. rule-of-law assistance in Kosovo.  Much of the equipment being donated today was previously used to support  U.S. police officers, prosecutors, judges, and other experts working under UNMIK’s rule of law component.  For nine years, these U.S. police and justice officials worked together with their international colleagues under UNMIK to help develop the capacity of Kosovo’s own rule of law institutions to administer justice and protect peace in Kosovo. 

In December 2008, however, EULEX assumed responsibility for monitoring, mentoring and advising on rule of law in Kosovo.  Eighty U.S. police and two U.S. prosecutors now work for the EULEX mission in Kosovo.  The transition from UNMIK to EULEX is a significant step; it shows that an independent Kosovo is now shouldering the responsibility for protecting its citizens’ rights and freedoms.   People know that they can trust in Kosovo’s own institutions to serve and protect the public.   At the same time, EULEX, with U.S. participation, will continue to assist Kosovo with the development of its rule of law institutions by helping police, judges and prosecutors attain European standards, building on the foundation that UNMIK earlier helped create.

There are many challenges ahead, and much work remains  to be done.  Kosovo is a new and developing state, and it will need both expertise and equipment to help enforce the rule of law.  The U.S. government is committed to helping Kosovo achieve its objectives in strengthening the rule of law.  In addition to the equipment that you see on display here, in the coming year, we will – always in coordination with our European partners – provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; we will work to improve the investigative skills of the Kosovo police in the areas of financial and organized crime and trafficking-in-persons, and we will provide experts to work with the Department for Borders and Migration in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to establish a modern system for immigration and asylum that accords with international standards.  We will provide training for Kosovo’s prosecutors on specific topics, and we will work to create better cooperation between police and prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of complex crimes.
 
Our commitment to Kosovo is enduring and strong.   As Vice President Biden made clear during his visit last week, we are dedicated to helping Kosovo strengthen those institutions that are essential to protecting the rights and freedoms of all of Kosovo’s people.  Madame Minister, Minister Pajaziti, it is my pleasure to present this equipment to you today in support of Kosovo’s rule-of-law institutions.