BELGRADE —
A regional ministerial conference on the fight against organized crime began this Monday in Belgrade.
[b92.net] The two-day conference will gather interior and justice
ministers from around the region to discuss cooperation in combating
organized crime.
European officials, and representatives of many organizations,
including OSCE, the Council of Europe, Europol, Interpol and Eurojust
are also taking part.
The conference was opened by President
Boris Tadić, who stated that the government in Belgrade is determined
to make a decisive blow to organized crime, both within Serbia and the
region, and that it counts on the European Union’s assistance.
Tadić underscored that the EU offers creation of a social environment
that is suitable for the fight against organized crime, and assistance
of its institutions that the Western Balkan societies had never had in
their history.
“The political fragmentation of societies in
Europe did not mean fragmentation of criminal organizations as well.
The political fragmentation in the Balkans has accelerated the
cooperation among organized criminal groups, which have always been one
step ahead of the institutions that fight them,” said Tadić.
European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot, Justice Minister
Snežana Malović, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, and Head of the OSCE
Mission to Serbia Dimitrios Kypreos were also present at the opening.
The main topic of the conference is the strengthening of regional and
transnational cooperation as a prerequisite for successful court
processes.
The conference, dubbed “Facing the Challenges of
Organized Crime and Serious Crimes on the territory of the Western
Balkans”, is organized by the Justice and Interior Ministries of Serbia
and the State Public Prosecution.
Source: http://www.b92.net//eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=09&dd=28&nav_id=62010
