Dacic: Our cooperation with German police contributes to European security

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday a new German donation of vehicles and equipment would help Serbia's border police perform their daily tasks and border control and surveillance even more efficiently in the future.

Dacic said this after the donation was handed over to the Border Police Directorate.

"In a time when the world and Europe face security challenges, close police cooperation is crucial for an efficient response to any threat that would jeopardise the security of citizens," Dacic said, adding that security and efficient responses were a priority for Serbia.

"The donation, which includes 29 thermal vision cameras and equipment for detecting traffickers of humans and goods, as well as ten off-road vehicles, is another indicator of the intensive cooperation the Interior Ministry has maintained for many years with its German equivalent as one of our most important donors when it comes to boosting the capacities of the Serbian police and our partner in the fight against all forms of crime," an official statement quoted Dacic as saying.

"Being aware of its geographic position, Serbia is acting responsibly and making maximum efforts towards maintaining security, not only within its own borders but in the region and entire Europe," he added.

"With the results achieved to date in curbing irregular migration, organised crime - which knows no boundaries - and human and drug trafficking, Serbian police have shown that they are a dependable partner to their colleagues in Europe and worldwide when it comes to preparedness and training levels. In light of the current security challenges brought by irregular migration, this donation, thanks to our German partners, will strengthen the border police as they perform their most significant task - prevention of cross-border crime and protection of the borders of the Republic of Serbia. By protecting our borders, Serbia protects the borders of the European Union, which it has proven on several occasions in the past years since the outbreak of the migrant crisis," Dacic said.