Events

Belarusian minister urges not to mix international cooperation in criminal matters and politics

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MINSK, 9 March (BelTA) - The 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is underway in Kyoto, Japan on 7-12 March. The Belarusian delegation at the major international forum is headed by Belarus’ Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Kubrakov, BelTA learned from the ministry.

“We stress the importance of strengthening international cooperation in combating drug trafficking, illegal migration, human trafficking, terrorism, extremism, corruption, cybercrime, money laundering and terrorist financing. New forms of organized crime using novel financial instruments should also be in the focus of attention,” said Ivan Kubrakov in his video message.

The minister emphasized that recently the situation in the world has changed dramatically. The number of internal and regional conflicts that are destroying the human values and sowing discord in society is growing rapidly. New criminal networks are interconnected and organized. Any strategy to counter crime and other challenges and threats to modern civilization will not help a single state to fully eradicate these phenomena.

“In the current circumstances, ensuring international peace and security and addressing threats require the concentration of meaningful and focused efforts of all mankind. International law enforcement cooperation must not mix with politics and must take into account national features. By ensuring the protection of people in each individual country, we create the basis for the security of the entire international community,” Ivan Kubrakov stressed.

The forums have been held every five years since 1955. Belarus has participated in three of them. The current congress discusses crime prevention strategies for social and economic development, integrated approaches to the challenges faced by the criminal justice system, and prospects for international technical assistance to states in the fight against terrorism and new types of crime.

The congress will also adopt the Kyoto Declaration, which draft brings together major crime trends and prevention activities, including the use of new technologies to combat crime, corruption and money laundering, and also international law enforcement and counterterrorism cooperation.

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