OSCE Mission to Skopje supports regional co-operation among prosecutors to combat organized crime

SKOPJE, 23 September 2010 - Judges and prosecutors from the region will share best practices in dealing with organized crime cases during an OSCE-supported conference that started today in Struga.

Participants in the three-day conference will share experiences on the use of special investigation measures in criminal prosecution of organized crime cases and discuss how to strengthen regional co-operation in this field.

The conference is organized by the Association of Public Prosecutors and supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the U.S. Embassy's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training Programme.

"Regional co-operation is crucial to combat organized crime. The OSCE strongly supports the ongoing efforts to share best practices among judges and prosecutors of the region," said the Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero.

Minster of Justice Mihajlo Manevski added: "International organized crime and corruption represent one of the biggest threats that have expanded in all parts of the world in the past few decades. For this reason, a co-ordinated response is necessary, in line with a previously defined global strategy."

Participants will create a set of recommendations to improve national legal frameworks with the aim of strengthening the region's response to organized crime.