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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia, Austria sign protocol on implementation of readmission agreement

Belgrade, 25 June 2010

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic and Austrian Minister of the Interior Maria Fekter signed a bilateral protocol on the implementation of the Agreement on readmission today in Belgrade.

Maria Fekter and Ivica Dacic

Author: Tanjug

After the signing, Dacic pointed to the good and intensive cooperation between the Serbian and Austrian police departments, which is important because of the large number of Serbian citizens living in Austria.

Dacic emphasised that the Austrian police have been providing help to Serbia in the previous period in the fight against crime and human trafficking, and in border protection.

He highlighted the cooperation in the police actions “Sumadija” and “Tisa” against money forging and the illegal transport of immigrants to the EU. He announced further joint actions of this type.

In the last two years, some 500 illegal Serbian immigrants were returned from Austria. Dacic noted that this does not refer to citizens from Kosovo-Metohija, as defined by the earlier readmission agreement with the EU.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that up until now, Serbian citizens who are residents of Kosovo-Metohija had the right to choose whether they wished to return to the province or go to another part of Serbia.

Fekter declared that it has been six months since visa liberalisation has started, but no negative occurrences in Austria have been registered, voicing her pleasure at the fact that the number of illegal entrants as well as the crime rate have decreased and that there have been almost no asylum requests submitted by citizens of Serbia.

It is in Austria’s interest to maintain good cooperation between the two police forces, she underlined adding that the success achieved in the previous period compels both countries to step up their cooperation.

Both police forces were well prepared for visa liberalisation, Fekter observed, noting that one third of Serbian citizens who have been denied asylum in Austria will be repatriated through police measures, while two-thirds have voluntarily agreed to return to their homeland.

Joint operations have helped to successfully conclude a number of investigations, Fekter recalled, underlining that more narcotics have been seized than ever before, while special attention was paid to solving murder cases and combating organised crime and money laundering.

Dacic and Fekter announced that an international anti-corruption academy will be established in Vienna in early September under UN auspices. It will cooperate with Interpol and Serbia will be one of its members.

After signing the protocol, the Serbian and Austrian delegations visited the base of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) in Batajnica and learned about the Unit´s activities, equipment and armament.

SAJ members performed a simulation exercise in saving hostages and they also showed their guests the preparatory activities for the European Shooting Championship, which will be held in September at the SAJ´s Base.