Press release: VI International Summit on Transnational Crime started today in Monaco

The Sixth International Summit on Transnational Crime, attended by a large number of representatives of governments, parliaments, judiciary and civil sector from Europe, America, Asia and Africa, started today in Monaco.

The Summit was declared open by State Minister of Monaco Patrick Leclercq. It is attended by Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Dragan Djurovic and Minister of Justice Zeljko Sturanovic.

Taking part in the plenary session, the former Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer pointed out that the Council of Europe had excellent cooperation with Montenegro during a human trafficking incident, which he mentioned as a good example of fruitful cooperation between a country and an international organization. He also expressed hope that there would be more such examples in cooperation with other countries. In addition, Mr. Schwimmer commended Montenegros efforts in the field of witness protection and organization of shelters for the victims of slave trade.

Minister of Justice Zeljko Sturanovic presented Montenegros achievements in the struggle against slave trade.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Dragan Djurovic today met with Croatian Minister of the Interior Marijan Mlinaric. Djurovic and Mlinaric agreed to intensify the cooperation between Montenegrin and Croatian interior ministries and for that purpose a top-level meeting will soon take place in Zagreb defining concrete forms of cooperation in the struggle against crime.

Djurovic and Sturanovic talked to the former Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, who stressed that the Council of Europe had had good cooperation with Montenegro and pointed out the concrete results of such cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister Djurovic thanked Mr. Schwimmer and the Council of Europe for their support and assistance to Montenegros democratic processes as well as for the confidence they had shown in Montenegro by entrusting it with the hosting of next years regional ministerial conference on witness protection.