Serbia wants increased police efficiency, citizen safety

BELGRADE/MONACO - Serbian Minister of the Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic said Tuesday that by adopting the EU standards Serbia wants to make its police more efficient and its citizens feel safer.

On the second day of the 83rd session of Interpol General Assembly in Monaco, Stefanovic pointed out that it is very important for Serbia and its citizens to have the police that are able to fight all aspects of crime.

"On our path towards the EU, it is not important to become a star on the EU flag one day, but that the standards we adopt make our police more efficient and make our citizens feel safer," the minister stressed.

This also means that the international cooperation must be stronger, so the criminals would know that they cannot simply go to another country and escape penalty and prosecution, he said.

The Serbian police have very good cooperation with many countries, said the minister, adding that this cooperation could further improve within the Interpol.

During the Interpol General Assembly session, Stefanovic had bilateral meetings with the interior ministers of Germany, Russia and Monaco, and the deputy minister of public security of the People's Republic of China.

According to a release issued by the Serbian Interior Ministry, the ministerial meeting held on Tuesday before the Interpol assembly session focused on globalization and the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and ended with an agreement to define further steps in this joint campaign.

The General Assembly session was also attended by Serbian Police Director Milorad Veljovic and Head of the Directorate for International Operative Police Cooperation Milan Dimitrijevic.

Photo Tanjug, M.Jelesijevic