Sources inside the Kosovo Government have told BIRN that Kosovo has withdrawn its application to join the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, the General Assembly for which is being held between October 15-18 in Santiago, Chile.

On Tuesday, Serbian media reported comments made by Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, who announced that Serbia’s embassy in Paris was notified that Kosovo has withdrawn its application for membership in Interpol.

BIRN sources within the Kosovo Government, who wanted to remain anonymous, have confirmed the withdrawal of the application without giving any further details. However, outgoing Minister of Interior Affairs, Ekrem Mustafa, told BIRN that he is not aware of the application being withdrawn.

It would not be the first time that Kosovo has pulled out of seeking membership of Interpol. Kosovo withdrew its application to join the organization before the 2017 meeting of the General Assembly in China. 

Former PM Ramush Haradinaj cited a lack of support expected from China as justification for the withdrawal, a country whose opposition to Kosovo’s statehood and entry into international organizations has been public since the government declared independence in 2008.

In November 2018 Kosovo’s membership bid failed due to a lack of support. With 68 votes in favor, 51 against and 16 abstentions, Kosovo failed to secure two thirds of the required vote from member states. This failure led to the introduction of the 100 per cent tariff on Serbian goods entering Kosovo, as a retaliatory policy against Serbia’s campaign to prevent Kosovo’s membership.