Dačić starts visit to United States

Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic says he will discuss security and cooperation in fighting terrorism and crime as he meets with U.S. officials. Dacic, who started a seven-day working visit to the U.S., pointed out in Washington that America was one of Serbia’s most important strategic partners and that dialogue and constant cooperation with top state officials were very important, said Serbian police (MUP) media office. Dacic starts visit to United States The minister stated that regional stability was very important for the U.S. and Serbia and that he would emphasize that Serbia was a key factor of peace and stability in the region. ”Serbia is very interested in development of good relations with the most important international factors and in terms of security it represents at the moment one of the most significant factors of the regional security cooperation,” he stated and stressed that Serbia “wanted the same kind of relations with the U.S.” Dacic announced a series of meetings with top security officials of the U.S., including the FBI director, and those with high representatives of other security agencies and services, along with visits to the New York Police Department, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Homeland Security. After his stop at Capitol Hill today, he pointed out that, beside the global political and regional topics regarding political relations, he would also talk about regional police cooperation, cooperation in combating organized crime, terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, people trafficking and illegal weapons trade. “So far we have had very good cooperation with the United States. As you know, the American embassy (in Belgrade) has on several occasions made big donations to our ministry when it comes to equipment for our special anti-terrorist units, and we expect negotiations about how to continue the exchange of experiences, and how to continue training of our people who have so far had several important projects in the U.S.,” Dacic said. He added that “some of the most important officers” of MUP’s top unit, the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), attended courses at schools and academies stateside, including at the FBI and other security structures. During his visit, Dacic is scheduled to will meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, FBI Director Robert Mueller, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Assistant Secretary of Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Johnson, representatives of Justice Department, and other officials with whom he will talk about security and fight against terrorism. Dacic in Washington today (Tanjug)

Dačić starts visit to United States

The minister stated that regional stability was very important for the U.S. and Serbia and that he would emphasize that Serbia was a key factor of peace and stability in the region.

”Serbia is very interested in development of good relations with the most important international factors and in terms of security it represents at the moment one of the most significant factors of the regional security cooperation,” he stated and stressed that Serbia “wanted the same kind of relations with the U.S.”

Dačić announced a series of meetings with top security officials of the U.S., including the FBI director, and those with high representatives of other security agencies and services, along with visits to the New York Police Department, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Homeland Security.

After his stop at Capitol Hill today, he pointed out that, beside the global political and regional topics regarding political relations, he would also talk about regional police cooperation, cooperation in combating organized crime, terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, people trafficking and illegal weapons trade.

“So far we have had very good cooperation with the United States. As you know, the American embassy (in Belgrade) has on several occasions made big donations to our ministry when it comes to equipment for our special anti-terrorist units, and we expect negotiations about how to continue the exchange of experiences, and how to continue training of our people who have so far had several important projects in the U.S.,” Dačić said.

He added that “some of the most important officers” of MUP’s top unit, the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), attended courses at schools and academies stateside, including at the FBI and other security structures.

During his visit, Dačić is scheduled to will meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, FBI Director Robert Mueller, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Assistant Secretary of Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Johnson, representatives of Justice Department, and other officials with whom he will talk about security and fight against terrorism.