Taking into consideration the importance of this institution in many sensitive issues of the society, especially in addressing issues such as that of missing persons, Minister Tahiri made it known that from a department of the Ministry of Justice, the Institute of Forensic Medicine became an agency.

Minister Tahiri thanked the Embassy of the United Kingdom, which based on the agreement with the Government was involved in the vacancy for the appointment of the director of this Institute. Since the vacancy was unsuccessful two times as a result of lack of sufficient number of applicants who meet the set requirements, Minister Tahiri publicly called upon anyone who meets the requirements to apply when the third vacancy is announced, guaranteeing that the entire process will be fair and transparent.

Minister Tahiri highlighted the need to continue strengthening this Institute with the education of new staff in areas that have shortages in this Institute.

“As the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we are interested in capacity building. I am interested in making joint efforts to invest in new staff, as have shortage of staff for many reasons. As a Minister of Justice, I will make efforts to mobilize all relevant resources, in order to find ways and financial sources for scholarships in the education of our youth in specific areas of forensic medicine that have shortages, so that tomorrow they will paragraph of this Institute” said Minister.

The head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Alexandra Papadopoulou, thanked the Minister for the initiative to enhance the capacities of this Institute.

“I would like to thank the Minister for his commitment in the initiative for enhancing the capacities of the Institute. Since EULEX is slowly withdrawing, we are seeking credible and competent partners in order to hand over our cases and to work with them in order to serve the citizens of Kosovo as good as possible” said Papadopoulou.

For the British ambassador to Kosovo, Ruari O'Connell, the fact that the vacancy for the Director of Institute was cancelled two times shows the commitment to finding a good director.

“For me this is not a failure, for me this fact shows that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo was serious in finding the best director from a wide range of applicants. This is very important not only for this institution but also for the principle in Kosovo that recruitment shall be based on merits” said the ambassador.

The director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Arsim Gërxhaliu, thanked for the support given to this Institute.

“I am pleased with swift involvement of the Minister who is interested in this Institute taking the right direction” said he.

Respectfully,

Public Information Office

Ministry of Justice

Building of former Rilindja

Floor VIII, Office 817/A

Prishtina, Kosovo

Phone: 038/200-18-009