Support to joint fight against organized crime

BELGRADE - Police officials of Serbia, Austria and Switzerland underlined on Wednesday the need to strengthen mutual cooperation in the fight against crime in the region of Southeast Europe and throughout the continent.

During a break in the General Assembly of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA), police officials of the three countries addressed reporters and expressed readiness to promote the cooperation at a strategic level.

Serbian Chief of Police Milorad Veljovic said that the fight against organized crime cannot be waged on one's own and partially. "The only way to persist in this fight is through cooperation, which must be genuine and well-intentioned in order to yield results," Veljovic pointed out.

The Serbian police are fully committed to the fight against organized crime, where no one will be protected or spared, he stressed.

Director of the Austrian Federal Criminal Office Franz Lang said that the Southeast Europe is very important for the security system of the entire continent and underlined the significance of joining forces in crime fighting.

Noting that he is happy to see Austria take part in the promotion of law enforcement services in the region, Lang said that this cooperation will be made official by the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the SEPCA General Assembly session on Wednesday.

Rene Wohlhauser of the Swiss Federal Criminal Police voiced confidence that police forces in the region will be able to step up the fight against organized crime through mutual cooperation.

I can confirm that the cooperation between the police of Serbia and other SEPCA members with the Swiss police is good and built on mutual trust, he said.