Regional countries strengthen border management

TIRANA, March 6 – The “7-th Annual Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in Field of Border Security in Southeastern Europe” was held last weekend in the capital Tirana with the participation of the interior ministers from seven western Balkan countries and other senior officials from their neighbors and also the European Union, represented by Spain in its rotating presidency.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that Albania has established brilliant border security cooperation with regional countries
The conference was chaired by Interior Minister Lul컩m Basha, as well as co-chaired by Ivica Dadi笠Interior Minister of the Republic of Serbia, and Ambassador Theodhor H.Winkler, head of Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).
Albania said it was ready to consolidate the joint cooperation further through new agreements.
Berisha said Albania was willing to sign every agreement with friendly EU countries and which serve to efficiently fight against crime.
The target of this conference was to re-confirm the willingness of the regional countries to cooperate with one another to enhance security of the common borders as well as guarantee the maximum commitment of these countries in their efforts for free and safe movement of goods and people via these borders.
The Prime Minister emphasized among other things that Serbia, Montenegro, FYROM and soon Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina having the right of free movement to the rest of Europe adds new responsibilities on these countries in a joint fight, and as efficiently as possible, against the organized crime which has border security as its main condition.
At the end of the conference the ministers signed a statement setting goals for the future.
They hailed their achievement in the development of the common vision of the enhancement of security of European citizens through well-controlled borders in SEE, highlighting the importance of the coordinated actions.
The ministers heard progress reviews in the field of border security during 2009 in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia, both individually and collectively, activities carried out by international donors, focusing on the programme delivered by Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and Partners.
They also discussed the strategic guidelines for 2011 and 2012.
They shared a common conviction that, “Ưur citizens benefit immensely from established border control routines based on an adequate legal foundation and are anchored in the good practices of the European Union Member States.”
They reiterated their commitment towards achieving the overarching goals envisaged for 2012 as agreed during the Sixth Annual Review Conference on Cooperation in the Field of Border Security in Southeast Europe in Belgrade, 2009.
They also stated readiness to contribute to European security through specific actions with the common goal to increase capacities and improve capabilities to such a level that will allow the region to become a European partner in the provision of security for all the citizens of the continent.
The ministers also expressed, “ƣonfidence that we are heading towards compliance with EU/Schengen requirements, we are benefiting from the assistance provided by the governments of Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, which ensures the way of developing a coordinated approach between national and international demands.”
The statement also urged the European Union to acknowledge the progress made by Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in fulfilling the benchmarks of the visa liberalization requirements, and
called upon the European Union to expedite the decision-making to grant the visa liberalization regime to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as possible.