U.S. envoy urges probe into ties between Šarić, officials

U.S. envoy urges probe into ties between Šarić, officials

BELGRADE -- The arrest and trial of suspected drug lord Darko Šarić "will lead to a reduced role of organized crime in society," U.S. Ambassador Michael Kirby has said.

Speaking for the Belgrade-based daily Politika, he added that possible ties between Šarić and government officials must be checked.

"There has been speculation here about a connection existing between organized crime and the government - I do not know whether that is still the case, but the matter should be investigated," Kirby said.

If that is still the case, the connection must be severed, and if that is not the case, the public must be shown that it no longer exists, he said.

The ambassador declined to comment on U.S. secret services that took part in locating Šarić and would not speculate on whether any information regarding Šarić's ties with politicians might emerge during his interrogation.

Asked to comment on media speculation about Šarić's alleged contacts with Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and his aides and the subsequent denial by Dačić, who responded that he has conferred with DEA and FBI chiefs, Kirby said that the U.S. has had good cooperation with the Serbian government in preventing illegal drug trade and that the cooperation will continue.

Dačić has been efficient as interior minister and then also as prime minister, and we will leave it to others to speculate on his meetings, Kirby said.

"We respect his position and we have had good cooperation accordingly," he was quoted as saying.

"We want to continue and expand this cooperation with Serbia regardless of whether Dačić is the interior minister or prime...