Dacic opens 2nd SEPCA General Assembly meeting

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic opened the 2nd General Assembly meeting of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) in Belgrade on Thursday, noting that the priorities set for the Serbian Interior Ministry's presidency over the association had been accomplished successfully.

The meeting was also attended by Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi.

Preventing human trafficking and illegal migration are the priorities for the region and the entire world, Dacic said at the opening ceremony at the Palace of Serbia.

He noted that he had told Al-Raisi that he had been in politics as well as in police affairs for many years but that he could not remember the name of Al-Raisi's predecessor and that the secretary-general had been in charge at Interpol in the past.

"The president of Interpol was not visible. I am grateful to Al-Raisi because he has broadened the views," Dacic said.

He noted that the results of police work in the region were good but that cooperation should be more visible and that preventive steps must be taken to let criminals know that "there are no our guys and your guys" and that they should not feel safe in any country in the world.

Al-Raisi said Serbia had had a substantial role at Interpol and that, over the course of more than two decades, the country had contributed to many operations to protect Europe from rising criminal activity.