On September 03, 2014 was held the first scientific regional conference with the topic “Migrant Smuggling – Kosovo and its reflections” in National Library “Pjetër Bogdani” in Pristina, organizated by the European College of Kosovo.
The conference lasted 2 hours with participants from various fields including Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Mr.Izmi Zeka:
“ We often make such political meetings, but scientific aspects are more relevant and give way to an issue that is very sensitive, makes us to retrieve models and to learn from each other and of course to prevent this sensitive issue of our region which is a barrier for going forward and normal development “.
The conference was very successful, with participants also from international field including foreign embassies in Kosovo (as the German Embassy, UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Albania). Other important participants were also the official representatives of international and local institutions: UNMIK, IOM, GIZ, EULEX, ICITAP, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The panelists emphasized that Migrant Smuggling is a worrisome phenomenon were victims are usually women and children.
Ela Elezi, expert from Albania’s Constitutional Court, said that Albania is recognized as a source and particularly transit country, specifically in recent years due to the recent war in Syria, Iraq, Sudan and other countries, the recruits are driven by Albanian traffickers residing in Greece and Turkey.
Other speeches were made by other panelists as Prof.Dr.Ismail Zendeli, Dean of the Faculty of Law at SEEU Macedonia, Mr.Besim Kelmendi, Prosecutor in Kosovo Special Prosecution and Colonel Ragip Bunjaku, Director of the Division for Integrated Border Management, Kosovo Police.
Dean of the European College of Kosovo, Prof.Dr. Ali Bajgora encourages such conferences to continue further and measures to be taken to prevent and fight this quite disturbing problem for Kosovo and its people.
European College of Kosovo, thanks participants in the conference, the conference members for their contribution and the media for their shown interest.
