Agreement between Switzerland and Montenegro to strengthen co-operation on fighting crime
Bern, 07.04.2016 - In a bilateral agreement signed on Thursday in Podgorica, Switzerland and Montenegro are to intensify co-operation on fighting all forms of crime. The police co-operation agreement will facilitate information exchange between the two countries and police investigations by cantonal and federal law enforcement services. The agreement adds to the network of similar agreements already concluded with other Balkan states. During its visit to the region, the Swiss delegation will also meet with the Albanian authorities.
The agreement was signed in Podgorica by Montenegro's director of police, Slavko Stojanović, and Nicoletta della Valle, director of Switzerland's Federal Office of Police (fedpol). The agreement will facilitate the exchange of information on crime suspects, enable greater use of INTERPOL channels, and allow joint police analyses. Furthermore, under the agreement senior police officers will be able to come together to solve crime within the framework of their national law. The work of the Swiss police attaché in Kosovo, who is responsible for Montenegro through cross accreditation, will also benefit from the agreement.
Switzerland has already concluded similar agreements with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. The agreement with Montenegro is part of the Federal Council's strategy on strengthening international police co-operation. South Eastern Europe is of major significance because the activities of organized crime groups from this region continue to have a profound impact on Switzerland. The new agreement will not just benefit fedpol but also the police authorities at cantonal level.
Visit to Albania
The Swiss delegation will conclude its visit to the Balkans by meeting with the Albanian authorities. Based on the police co-operation agreement with Albania, which came into force in 2007, Switzerland welcomes closer co-operation and contact with Albanian investigators. In particular, Switzerland seeks to strengthen measures to combat human trafficking and drug trafficking.
Address for enquiries
Communication and Media Service, fedpol, T: +41 58 463 13 10
Publisher
Federal Office of Police
http://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/en/home.html
