EUBAM and security services of Moldova and Ukraine to strengthen border cooperation

The EU Border Assistance Mission at the border between Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) and the security services of the two countries join efforts to fight trans-border organized crime, Info-Prim Neo reports. On January 21, in Odesa, they held a trilateral meeting and decided to form working groups to fight human trafficking and smuggling drugs, armament and consumer goods, reads a press release of the mission. The parties reviewed the trilateral cooperation since the first meeting on 14 December 2006. Participants in the meeting acknowledged that the trilateral cooperation between the services and EUBAM has improved. “In 2008 EUBAM saw effective cooperation with the security services of Moldova and Ukraine, which has lead to real results such as detection of large scale cigarette smuggling to the European Union,” said Head of EUBAM Ferenc Banfi during the meeting. Thus, they thwarted the loss of some 5 million euros – taxes in the EU. Artur Resetnikov, the Director of the Service of Information and Security of Moldova said: “The present trilateral cooperation in the framework of the Joint Declaration, which was signed on 14 December 2006 has allowed us to undertake measures aimed at improving regional security. It will promote stability in this region and contribute to the solution of Transnistrian problem.” Acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Valentyn Nalyvaichenko highlighted the significant progress achieved in combating security threats on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. “We can say today that thanks to joint efforts of Ukrainian and Moldovan law enforcements and security services and with active support of the EU Mission we were able to significantly change the situation on the border and eliminate main channels of smuggling and illegal migration in the region to serve the interests of citizens who live on both sides of the border,” mentioned Mr. Nalyvaichenko. He emphasized that only in 2008 during the joint border control operations 293 cases of smuggling across the border were detained amounting to more than EUR 1 million.