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| Kosovo Police officials and US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier (centre) during a press conference in Pristina, where they signed the donation of drones donated by the US, October 11, 2023, source: RFE |
The United States has donated seven drones to the Kosovo Police and Police Inspectorate, which will serve for observation and tactical missions, according to the U.S. Ambassador in Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier.
At the signing ceremony of the donation agreement, Ambassador Hovenier stated that the latest U.S. assistance to Kosovo's law enforcement institutions reflects the long-term commitment of the United States to the development of the Kosovo Police.
"This is an additional testament to the confidence of the United States in Kosovo to carry out independent missions in the fight against narcotics and law enforcement," said Hovenier.
The American donation to the Kosovo Police comes about three weeks after the police were attacked by an armed group of Serbs in the village of Banjskë, in the Zvečan municipality, on September 24.
"Considering the scale of criminal activities of organized groups in the region, these unmanned aerial vehicles will be a vital resource for law enforcement agencies in Kosovo to combat criminal activities on land and in the air," added Hovenier.
The General Director of the Kosovo Police, Gazmend Hoxha, stated that the police will make the best possible use of the drones donated by the United States to enhance the security of citizens throughout Kosovo.
"The donation will have a positive impact on increasing the capacity of the police to manage situations in the field, including monitoring Kosovo's borders and other investigative operations that the Kosovo Police will carry out in the future," said Hoxha.
The Kosovo Police used drones to observe the movements and actions of the armed Serb group that carried out the attack in Banjskë. Drones were also used to identify the leader and organizer of the attack, Milan Radojičić, who later took responsibility for the assault.
Kosovo authorities stated that behind the attack, which they termed an "attempt to annex the northern part of Kosovo," stands the state of Serbia. Serbian authorities denied these accusations, and the three Serbs killed during the exchange of fire with the Kosovo Police were honored as heroes.
On October 3, Radojičić, the former Deputy Chairman of the Serbian List, the main political party of Serbs in Kosovo controlled by Belgrade, was arrested in Serbia, but released from custody a day later.