SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE

Multi-media law enforcement library donated by FBI to SECI Center

BUCHAREST, November 28th -- The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation donated, in the presence of the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Nicholas F. Taubman, a fully equipped multi-media law enforcement library to the SECI Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime.

"SECI has an unique and critical role in providing a law enforcement “bridge” between the European Union and the non-E.U. nations. There is no other international law enforcement organization capable of successfully controlling operations such as these in real time. Criminals won’t wait for letters rogatory or diplomatic notes. The speed at which SECI can coordinate a trans-border investigation is one of its greatest strengths. Liaison officers from twelve countries --countries that don’t always see eye-to-eye-- work together every day to combat the enemy of all nations, crime and corruption”, affirmed Ambassador Taubman.

The SECI Center director, Mitja Mocnik emphasized the importance of this source of information and the cooperation with the US agencies: “The support we are receiving is tremendous. I don’t have in mind just the financial support. I have in mind the support from the experts of US agencies. This support, though is not always visible, is valuable."

The $75,000 USD donation consists of the building out of an unused room, which was furnished and equipped with computers and full digital and print media capability, as well as about 200 bound volumes on various law enforcement topics.

The Joint Cooperation Committee representatives - officials from the Foreign Ministries, Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Finance as well as senior police and customs officials from the 12 member countries and officials from the observer nations and organizations – were present at the event.

The SECI Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime launched in 2000 and headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, is a unique operation organization which reunites police and customs liaison officers from the 12 member states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey) who work together in direct cooperation.

Besides the member countries, there are 20 observers, countries and organizations. Italy and the United States have maintained a permanent representation at the SECI Center, while Interpol and World Customs Organization are permanent advisors to the SECI Center.

For more information, please visit the SECI Center website: www.secicenter.org.

This press release also available at http://www.secicenter.org/p284/28_November_2007

• Related info: Riposta eficienta impotriva criminalitatii informatice

back to top ^