Serbia: Ministry of Interior of Serbia and UNODC strengthen their collaboration and discuss the new Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe for 2024/2029 

 

22-24 April 2024, Belgrade: Danilo Rizzi, UNODC Regional Representative for South-Eastern Europe undertook a mission to Belgrade, to discuss with national counterparts and diplomatic missions in the country the new Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe for 2024-2029 and the status of the collaboration between Serbia and UNODC.

In a high level meeting held at the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Ivan Brandić, Assistant Chief, Criminal Police Directorate, National Focal Point for UNODC/Serbia relations and his team of senior police officials, expressed Serbia’s full support to the new UNODC Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe and provided valuable comments and suggestions in terms of technical assistance and capacity building for the Ministry of Interior and other institutions of the country.

Mr. Rizzi, recalled the long lasting collaboration between Serbia and UNODC and briefed the audience on the new  Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe that will cover five strategic pillars under UNODC conventional mandates: Sub-Programme 1: Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care, 2: Transnational Organized Crime, 3: Anti-Corruption and Asset Recovery, 4: Prevention of Terrorism and Violent Extremism, and 5: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. He thanked the Ministry of Interior for its support in coordinating the development and implementation of the new Regional Programme and welcomed the suggestions by the participants in the meeting, in particular addressing the identification and disruption of transnational criminal networks, the nexus between corruption and organized crime, the qualified and safe forensic collection, custody and destruction of dangerous illicit drugs and chemical precursors, and emerging criminal trends, such as the illicit use of Artificial Intelligence in the area of cybercrime. The discussion expanded in the area of new dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and captagon and effective ways for early warning and protection of youth and vulnerable groups.

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The Regional Representative for South-Eastern Europe briefed the Ministry of Interior, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and key donors, about the departure from Belgrade of the UNODC Head of Office in Serbia  and Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser and the nomination of the Officer-in-Charge of the Belgrade Office who will continue to ensure the smooth continuation of UNODC operations in Serbia.

During the mission in Belgrade the Regional Representative also met with the Ambassadors of Italy and Norway as well as with representatives of other diplomatic missions in Belgrade to  discuss possible cooperation and support to the Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe 2024-2029.