site.btaBulgaria's Interior Ministry Delegation Pays Working Visit to Kosovo for First Time

Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry delegation, led by Deputy Minister Ivelina Dundakova, is paying a working visit to Kosovo on February 20-21, the Ministry said. During the visit, Dundakova conferred with her counterpart, Bardhyl Dobra, who is in charge of administrative reform.

Dobra briefed her on his priorities for administrative reform and institutional modernization. He said that the information exchange between the police forces of the two countries is a good basis for developing active contacts, which contribute to building capacity and addressing common challenges such as preserving the region’s stability and preventing future crises.

Dundakova wished Kosovo success in joining the Council of Europe and said that Bulgaria is ready to intensify political contacts and expert exchanges, including to organize an interior ministers meeting soon and to sign a comprehensive agreement on police cooperation in police training, special forces exercises, and border management, among others. Dundakova stressed that the Western Balkan countries are a political priority for Bulgaria, and there is potential for developing active cooperation in a number of areas.

The Bulgarian delegation also conferred with the leadership of the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, established in 2006 and tasked with verifying alerts and investigating crimes committed by police officers, including cases of corruption, unlawful use of force, etc. The guests also held talks with the management of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety, which trains officers of six Kosovo law enforcement agencies.

The Interior Ministry Academy expressed its readiness to send a draft document regulating the police training exchange soon. The Kosovo side has expressed its willingness to engage in exchange with the Institute of Psychology at the Bulgarian Interior Ministry.

On Wednesday, the Bulgarian delegation is scheduled to confer with the Deputy Minister of the Interior in charge of the police, and the leadership of the Kosovo police and the anti-terrorist unit.