The Ministry of Interior is firmly behind the story of police cooperation called the Convention on Police Cooperation in Southeast Europe, which to date gives concrete results and offers a perspective for further development of strategic and operational cooperation in all countries that are part of this platform, said the Minister. Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski at today’s 22nd meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Convention on Police Cooperation in Southeast Europe, which is being held in Skopje.
Spasovski said that cross-border cooperation and joint operational activities through timely exchange of data and information are a prerequisite for successful implementation of measures at national and international level for the return of foreign terrorist fighters from military hotspots in the Middle East.
“We are aware that it is an excellent basis for information exchange and a powerful tool applicable in all segments of policing, preventive, repressive and at all levels – strategic, tactical and operational, significantly contributing to capacity building and their professional development,” he said. in Spasovski’s speech.
Speaking about the priorities from the very beginning of taking over the chairmanship of the SJPSYE, Spasovski singled out the activities that are being implemented in terms of changing the so-called Mini-Prum Agreement, one for amendments to the provision of the Agreement concerning the accession of new members of the Convention to the Agreement on Automated Data Exchange, and the second for the signing of the “Protocol Amending this Agreement”, part of which will be realized on the sidelines of this Committee of Ministers.
He also mentioned the initiative of the Ministry of Interior for exchange of information between non-adjacent joint contact centers, established between the contracting parties to the Convention on Police Cooperation.
– I am aware that we will have a special session on this issue and I hope that this opportunity to further deepen the cooperation between the established joint contact centers will meet with your approval and that after this Committee of Ministers in its conclusions determines such a possibility, the contracting parties who have the need and desire to expand such cooperation, they will do it, said Minister Spasovski.
As Spasovski said, the trend of illegal crossings across the Western Balkans and the Adriatic is still active and ongoing. The situation on the Greek-Turkish border, he stressed, is increasing the number of illegal crossings.
In order to effectively deal with the phenomenon of illegal migration, the Minister stressed the importance of developing and strengthening international cooperation, as a priority based on which the security and political stability of the countries is upgraded.
– A key activity in the fight against current security challenges and tendencies is the progress in the realization of mutual cooperation and deepening of trust, as a key precondition for successful management of illegal migration and smuggling of migrants at regional and international level, which confirms our readiness to create conditions. for a favorable political and security environment for achieving this progress, said Minister Spasovski.
In that context, he said, the need for more coordinated and comprehensive cooperation at the operational level or even better, as he said, the need for a common approach between all countries concerned, EU agencies and the European Commission with the support of relevant international organizations. within their competences.
According to him, the joint approach implies not only regular exchange of data and information, but also joint risk analysis, coordination of national activities, but also the implementation of joint operational activities.
Minister Spasovski noted that the expectations are within the Convention on Police Cooperation in Southeast Europe, to be able to once again address the qualitative and quantitative aspects of regional cooperation, which will result in conclusions that in the future will be a good basis for defining and managing this cooperation in order to achieve the necessary effects and protection in the field of illegal migration and cross-border crime, as well as in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
The Minister of Interior of Italy, Lucana Lamorgeze, also addressed the meeting of the Convention, who will have a bilateral meeting with Spasovski, in order to further enhance the mutual cooperation.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varhei also addressed the gathering via video message.
Spasovski expressed special gratitude to Karl Lesjak, Head of the Secretariat of the Convention on Police Cooperation and congratulated him on his appointment to this position.
Earlier, Spasovski expressed gratitude and respect to the Bulgarian authorities, who continue to work dedicatedly to establish the details of the tragic event with the “Besa Trans” bus from a week ago in which 45 citizens of the Republic of Northern Macedonia lost their lives and who showed special friendship. and good neighborliness in the days after the accident.
Source: Sloboden Pecat
