Network to Unite Chief Prosecutors of Balkan Countries

Bulgarian Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov and his Macedonian counterpart Marko Zvrlevski have backed the idea for the establishment of a network of chief prosecutors of the Balkan countries.

During a meeting on Monday, the two discussed the opportunities for cooperation between the chief prosecutors of the Balkan countries through a network.

Meetings and discussions are to be held with the chief prosecutors of the other countries in the region by end-2014 under the initiative, according to the press office of Bulgaria's prosecuting authority.

Tsatsarov and Zvrlevski discussed, among other things, the competence of Macedonia's special prosecuting authority in the sphere of combating organized crime and corruption.

The Macedonian Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption handles all cases involving crimes which resulted in damages worth over EUR 15 000. It consists of three departments and only the prosecutors who work there have investigative powers.

During Monday's meeting, Tsatsarov presented the competence and functions of Bulgaria's prosecuting authority.

Marko Zvrlevski and Jovan Ilievski, Head of Macedonia's Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption, are on a two-day visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Sotir Tsatsarov.