PRISTINA -- Kosovo has again withdrawn its application to join Interpol amid signs the small Balkan nation would not have enough support among members to gain a seat in the international law enforcement organization.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj sent a letter to the organization as it was about to begin its General Assembly meeting in Santiago, Chile, on October 15.
Haradinaj's office said the letter requested that the application be postponed until next year.
A Kosovo spokeswoman told RFE/RL that the decision was based on the "new circumstances" of the upcoming formation of a new government and the status of Haradinaj, who in July announced plans to resign.
Other government officials also said it was clear Pristina would not garner the needed two-thirds vote among Interpol members to gain a seat.
Interpol, based in the French city of Lyon, acts as a clearinghouse for national police services seeking to hunt down suspects outside their borders.
In November 2018, Kosovo's application failed after Serbia lobbied against its membership.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 -- a move never recognized by Belgrade, its traditional ally Moscow, and five EU member states. It is recognized by more than 110 countries, including its close ally, the United States.
Haradinaj resigned as Kosovo's prime minister in July after war crimes prosecutors at The Hague summoned him for questioning over alleged crimes committed during and immediately after the 1998-99 Kosovo War.
The move led to a snap election on October 6 in which Kosovo’s leftist-nationalist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party and the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) finished on top and began talks on forming a new government.
Kosovo Withdraws Application To Join Interpol Amid Signs Of Lagging Support
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Belarusian Prankster Dupes Russian Teachers Into Wearing Tinfoil Hats To Ward Off 'Foreign Enemies'
2UEFA To Rule After Kosovar Players Walk Off In Romania Amid Claims Of 'Racist' Chants
3How Does Marco Rubio, Trump's Pick For Secretary Of State, See The World?
4Ukraine Live Briefing: All-Out Assault On Kupyansk
5Russian Forces Reportedly Start All-Out Assault On Key Ukrainian City Of Kupyansk
6How The Caspian Sea Became A Battlefield
7Anti-War Russian Chef Found Dead In Belgrade
8Peace Talks Brewing, Russia And Ukraine Jockey For Advantage -- On And Off The Battlefield
9With U.S. Ties In The Balance, Kallas Seeks Bold EU Stance On Russia And China
10A 'Turn To The Right': Donald Trump And The Rise Of Populist Leaders
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
