Lyon – Intensification of collaboration between MARRI and INTERPOL was the focus of the meeting Regional Centre Director Ambassador Tamara Mugosa had with Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
Interlocutors agreed that cooperation could contribute to global security architecture and discussed the way ahead in terms of specific activities.
Mugosa informed Secretary General that the mission of MARRI is to support regional approach to better migration management and European Integration of six Participants in the area of legal harmonization with international standards, capacity building and information exchange.
Secretary General recognized importance of MARRI role in the Western Balkans and stressed that it could be INTERPOL’s strategic partner in vast range of areas, in particular border security and combatting trafficking in human beings.
INTERPOL IS & Technology Directorate represented by Bozidar Popovic, Deployment Officer already provided technical assistance to MARRI in the area of border police capacity building for more than a year.
The follow up has been agreed with trainings for use of I – 24/7 data base in Police Cooperation Centers at two trisection points established in Trebinje (BiH) and Plav (Montenegro).
MARRI Project Manager for Border Police Network, Selma Mehovic presented results achieved through project activities and possibilities of enhancing the partnership with INTERPOL in the field of border management.
MARRI Director discussed also with Assistant Director, IS/Services Sub-Directorate Dominic Suc and was informed on expansion of INTERPOL’s Tools and Services in Western Balkans.
Visit to the operation room of the Command and Coordination Centre was organized and its activities and functioning was described by Daniel Huguenin, Senior Operations Assistant.
Hans Halvorse from Organized and Emerging Crime Directorate provided the presentation on Illegal migration, trafficking in Human Beings and People Smuggling Network, while Matthew Dompier, Criminal Intelligence Officer informed on activities INTERPOL conducts in the area of Crimes Against Children. MARRI Delegation was also acquainted with the activities of the Coordination desk for Europe which was delivered by Branislava Stojchevski, Regional Specialized Officer.