Executive chief of Kosovo Forensic Agency with deputies invitation reported to the Commission for Security and Defense Issues for achievements and challenges of Kosovo Forensic Agency.
Executive chief Dr. Olluri presented to the deputies the achievements of KFA, emphasizing the Accreditation of laboratories with the international standard ISO 17025, the construction of the Annex Facility with a space of 2500m2, the acceptance of equipment from the EU 1.2 million euro passing proficiency tests successfully of staff, receiving a donation of the “TRAFFIC Application” from the French Embassy for the Ballistics Division, upgrading the CODIS DNA system from version 7.0 to 9.0 funded by the US Embassy, conducting DNA training for mortal remains of missing persons organized by ICMP etc. He also informed that during the first half of 2021, 2106 cases (forensic expertise) were successfully performed with high quality with about 28,048 accompanying evidence.
Executive chief Dr. Olluri in front of the deputies also addressed the challenges faced by the KFA, emphasizing that the main challenge for the KFA is the change of staff status from staff with special status (specialized – scientific staff) to public servants, where consequently all recruitment competencies, training and other relevant functions are taken. Another challenge of KFA is the supply of essential forensic material for conducting expertise (with special emphasis on DNA expertise), as a result of procurement procedures, and the Commission is requested to support the Government in addressing this issue to the possibility of exclusion from procurement procedures, as the requirements of the KFA are special and specific.
Deputies-members of the Committee, asked questions about the functionality of the KFA and after being informed in detail about the work done by the KFA, offered support and promised to address the challenges facing the KFA.
The Chairman and members of the Commission offered support to the work being done by the Kosovo Forensic Agency and at the same time expressed satisfaction with the development that this Agency is doing in the field of forensic science, they provided also support for the return of the previous status of KFA employees, support with scientific staff for KFA laboratories, budget increase and facilitation of procurement procedures for the supply of essential forensic material for KFA laboratories.