Kosovo's Bid to Join Interpol Fails

Kosovo failed to secure the necessary support of two-thirds of Interpol's 192 member states in its bid to join the International Criminal Police Organisation at its general assembly in Dubai on Tuesday.

According to Serbian national broadcaster RTS, of the countries that cast their votes, 51 were against Kosovo's membership, 68 were in favour, and 16 abstained. Kosovo needed to secure 115 votes to join.

Kosovo's Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, expressed "deep disappointment" on Facebook over Pristina's failed Interpol bid and accused Serbia of fighting a "vicious campaign" against Kosovo's membership.

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, called the result of the vote "unjust", but maintained that Belgrade and Pristina should reach a final agreement on the normalisation of relations.

"The agreement on normalisation … means quick EU accession, otherwise both countries will pay," Thaci told media in Dubai.

Thankful to all countries for their vote for Kosovo's membership in Interpol. Regardless of the negative outcome, now more than ever it's clear we need final and comprehensive deal between Kosovo and Serbia to ensure mutual recognition and membership of Kosovo in UN, NATO & EU.

— Hashim Thaçi (@HashimThaciRKS) November 20, 2018

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called on Pristina to understand that "the solution is in reaching an agreement with Belgrade, and not in having someone imposing solutions on Serbia."

"It would be good if Albanian politicians would send that message to their people," Vucic told media in Belgrade.

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic tweeted a photo of the Interpol general assembly with the Serbian word "pobeda" ("Victory").

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