We all know that organized crime, by form and content, is a national but also a trans-national threat, said Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska in Tuesday's address at the conference of Southeast Europe home affairs and justice ministers, held in Belgrade within the Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) forum "Regional and Transnational Cooperation in Fight against Organized Crime in Southeast Europe - Challenges and Achievements".

"Over the recent years, detection and closure of organized crime cases has been and is one of the basic priorities of the Macedonian Ministry of Interior", said Minister Jankuloska.

She briefed SEE counterparts on the series of ministry projects and activities towards a more successful fight against all forms of organized crime, emphasizing the importance of regional and international cooperation as a crucial link in the systematic approach of organized crime prevention.

"For the purpose of achieving this strategic objective, a Sector for International Police Cooperation has been established at the MoI, which integrates the Interpol, SECi, Europol, SIRENE-Schengen, as well as police liaison officers", stressed Jankuloska.

The Macedonian MoI also took part in the session dedicated to fight against narcotics and high-tech crime.

Jankuloska emphasized that results achieved by the Macedonian Ministry of Interior in the fight against drug trafficking have confirmed the country as a regional factor of security, taking into consideration its commitment in the combat against organized crime.

Serbian President Boris Tadic and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstroem opened the Belgrade conference, which also tackles the initiative for regional arrest warrants as an innovative response to organized crime.