UNMIK/PR/1379
PRISTINA – SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen this afternoon attended the transfer of command of the Prizren Regional Police Headquarters from the international Civilian Police to the KPS. During a ceremony at the Prizren Sports Centre, outgoing UNMIK Police Regional Commander Chuck Jordan handed over control of the RHQ to KPS Colonel Ahmet Hasi.
The SRSG said the hand-over showed “how far the KPS has advanced along the path towards taking full responsibility for policing throughout Kosovo. It also reflects UNMIK’s commitment to transferring responsibility in the whole field of security, a process which will ultimately result in the establishment of two new ministries, of Justice and Public Order, by the end of the year.”
The SRSG recalled that the KPS is an institution in which inter-ethnic co-operation is seen to function well and this is regarded as a strength, helping to make the Service more effective. “Its success, I believe, helps to spread the message that in all areas of life in Kosovo, strength lies in diversity”, added the SRSG.
The transition of the Prizren Regional Headquarters marked “first and foremost a success for the KPS, reflecting their evolution into an organization capable of providing safety, security and service to the people of Kosovo; a success for the international community and our international Police in preparing the KPS for this responsibility; and finally a success for this community demonstrating their confidence in, and co-operation with, their police service”, said the SRSG.
Prizren is the second Regional Police Command to be transferred to KPS, following the transfer of Gnjilane/Gjilan on 24 March 2005.
To date 31 out of a total of 33 police stations across all five Regions of Kosovo have been transferred to KPS command. All five regional traffic units and two out of five Regional Commands have also been transferred. Only two police stations, Zubin Potok and Kosovska Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, remain to be transferred to KPS command. The transitions are scheduled in the next couple of months.