Dacic: Cooperation with Interpol very good, Serbia wants Belgrade to become its regional bureau

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday Serbia was a serious and responsible partner to Interpol in the fight against organised crime, terrorism and violence, and added that the goal was to deepen that cooperation and that a significant number of countries supported the idea of establishing a regional Interpol bureau in Belgrade.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, who is on an official visit to Belgrade, Dacic said that, traditionally, Serbia maintained very good cooperation with Interpol and that it was one of the ten most frequent users of the organisation's data bases and tools.

He said Serbian police had exchanged around 120,000 messages with Interpol in a secure communication system last year and some 62,000 in the first six months of this year.

Dacic also said 86 international arrest warrants had been issued last year, with 97 more issued in the first half of this year.

"In the first six months, 53 people were detained abroad under our arrest warrants and 74 people were detained in Serbia under foreign arrest warrants. Also, there were 59 transfers and extraditions to Serbia, as well as 65 transfers and extraditions from Serbia," Dacic said.

Urquiza: Serbia has demonstrated commitment to international police cooperation

BELGRADE - Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, who is on an official visit to Belgrade, said on Monday Serbia was a valued partner of Interpol and had over the past years demonstrated a commitment to international police cooperation through active operational engagement and sharing vital law enforcement information.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Serbian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, Urquiza said that "through close cooperation with Interpol and other member countries, Serbian law enforcement helps strengthen our collective ability to identify criminal networks and protect communities across the region and beyond."

"We understand that criminal networks do not respect national borders. Whether we are tackling transnational organised crime, illicit firearms trafficking, human trafficking or pursuing international fugitives, no country can address these threats alone. Success depends on trusted partners and Serbia plays an important role in these efforts," he said. 

"This visit is also an important opportunity to gain a better understanding of the evolving criminal threats affecting Serbia and the Western Balkans and how Interpol can help address them. 

As criminal groups continue to adapt and operate across borders, our cooperation must continue to evolve as well. With Serbia's active participation, Interpol and its 196 member countries are better equipped to identify, target and dismantle the organised criminal groups that threaten our collective security," Urquiza said.