UNMIK/PR/878
Wednesday, 27 November 2002

UNMIK and FYROM Sign Agreement on Police Cooperation

PRISTINA –UNMIK and FYROM signed a protocol on police cooperation today during SRSG Michael Steiner’s visit to Skopje.

SRSG Michael Steiner met FYROM leaders and discussed issues of mutual interest and cooperation.

The agreement on police cooperation, similar to those already signed with Tirana and Belgrade, would involve exchange of information and cooperation in fighting organized crime, terrorism, trafficking of women, drugs and money laundering.

During his day-long visit, the first since the election of the new government, SRSG Michael Steiner met President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, Deputy Prime Minister Musa Xhaferi and Foreign Minister Mrs. Ilinka Mitreva.

Speaking to the press after his meetings, SRSG Michael Steiner said he had gone to Skopje to establish “good neighbourly relations with the newly elected government”. He emphasized that “we have a common vision about where we want to go. We want to establish good relations between each other and also in the region. We have a regional approach and I think we have common issues. We all agree that fight against crime, against organized crime requires cooperation in the region. We all agree that we have mutual interest in further fostering trade in the region and we agree that we have to foster freedom of movement.”

SRSG Michael Steiner said they also discussed practical issues that would facilitate freedom of movement.

SRSG Michael Steiner also expressed satisfaction that progress had been made on mutual recognition of vehicle insurance so that people could travel across the border without paying an additional tariff.

SRSG Michael Steiner said he was very happy that he had received support from the leaders in FYROM for the policies “that we are pursuing in Kosovo, which foster good neighbourly relations in the Balkans.”

In answer to a question on police cooperation, he told journalists that “we again follow a regional approach. We have concluded these police agreements with Belgrade and Tirana and are about to sign one with Slovenia.” UNMIK would conclude similar agreements with Montenegro and Bosnia, he said.