MUP interested in CoE expert support

BELGRADE - The Serbian interior ministry (MUP) is interested in receiving expert support from the Council of Europe (CoE) Office in Belgrade in professional development and improvement of the ministry's work concerning the respect of human rights, police work in local community, the fight against crime and corruption, Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said on Friday.

Minister Stefanovic, who met the newly appointed head of the CoE Office in Belgrade Tim Cartwright and his deputy Nadia Cuk on Friday, said he is satisfied with the good cooperation between the MUP and the CoE Office in Belgrade.

Besides the reform process in the MUP, the minister underscored that there is also a need for responding to the challenges of Serbia's pending EU entry talks, especially when it comes to Chapters 23 and 24, the interior ministry stated in a release on Friday.

As a good example of the cooperation, Stefanovic mentioned the joint efforts on preparations for the project aimed at strengthening human resources in terms of maintaining law and order in public meetings and mass events.

Cartwright noted that the office and ministry have good cooperation for a long time, and would like it to expand.

Besides the joint engagement in drafting the projects, the CoE is at the ministry's disposal for all modes of cooperation, especially those aimed at adjusting to international standards, the MUP quoted Cartwright as saying.

Photo Tanjug/Ministry of Interior