Minister of Internal Affairs, Jelal Sveçla, has reacted after today's protest of the Special Intervention Unit, saying that the Government of Kosovo is committed to improving the working conditions for the police and according to him, since receiving the mandate, the budget has increased by 30 percent.

Members of the Special Intervention Unit of the Kosovo Police and other units protested today in front of the Kosovo government building, with the request for better working conditions.

The President of the Kosovo Police Union, Imer Zeqiri, presented 14 requests related to the improvement of conditions for police members, such as clothing, work tools, logistical tools, police facilities, bearing in mind that some police facilities and vehicles such as and other necessary equipment for the performance of official duties do not meet the minimum requirements for work.

While in his reaction, the minister Sveçla says that a fair and safe path has already been laid to change the security situation in the country and this path has no turning back.

"Anyone who in any form, for personal or group interests, tries to use different situations in order to weaken these commitments is predisposed to fail", he writes. Sveçla on Facebook.

This is the second protest within 40 days of these units, which also demand a revision of the payment for the degree of dangerousness at work.

The Government of Kosovo decided to allocate an additional 150 euros to the Special Intervention Units due to dangerousness, but this supplement is being opposed, demanding that the amount of dangerousness at work be increased from 25 to 50 percent of the basic salary.

Police officers protest for working conditions and welfare - KosovaPress

The minister's full post Sveçla:

The Republic of Kosovo has an economy and a budget that addresses the needs of the state and society.

With them, despite the achievements of recent years, everything and everyone should be covered and treated.

While there are many social categories that, both within them and compared to each other, have previously been treated unequally.

Our whole effort is to reduce the inequality both within the profession and between different professions with the possibilities we have.

In our approach, the salary has never been separated from other working conditions that constitute an essential aspect of the treatment of workers in each sector, among them of course the Kosovo Police.

I reiterate that for the Kosovo Police, since taking our mandate until today, we have increased the budget by 30%, while the increase in capital investments is 300%.

The budget for operational equipment was less than half a million, whereas today it is over 9 million euros or 21 times more.

Together with the Ministry of Health and ShSKUK, we have signed a cooperation agreement through which all health services in all regions of Kosovo will be offered to police officers with priority and without any payment.

With the receipt of the mandate from us, the Kosovo Police, the Special Units have had and continue to have the greatest support both in terms of finances and with the increase in structure.

As the Minister of Internal Affairs, it is our duty to think and take care of the whole, and thus being issued in each of the 9 executive agencies and then specific treatment for the units within each agency separately, always taking into account the real opportunities and the right approach .

Sacrifice can never be the starting point to define a reward because this form, in addition to being harmful, always turns out to be impossible.

We will not be able to reward any sacrifice of the Albanian people in history, of any individual, to give equal value because life is priceless. She has no price. No price, no reward will ever be equivalent to life, but this is our commitment to the country.

During this time together we have done a lot of good work in terms of fighting crime, corruption and smuggling, despite the fact that we have not been helped much by the judiciary. In particular, we have extended integrity, sovereignty and security to the north of the country.

I don't believe that there is a salary that would encourage us to do this, but we have done our best to treat each unit of the Kosovo Police as they deserve.

I was very aware of the situation in which we will find security in the Republic of Kosovo and the miserable situation in terms of infrastructural and financial aspects of the Kosovo Police, but with a lot of work and commitment, despite each challenge, we have done good work and will we continue to do.

Together, we have paved a fair and safe path to change the security situation in the country, and this path has no turning back.

Anyone who in any form, for personal or group interests, tries to use different situations in order to dilute these commitments is predisposed to fail.

We will not stop. Because we are on the right and right path.