"Serbia threatened by Albanian terrorism"

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said in The Hague on Friday that Serbia was facing internal terrorist threat. Dacic specified that there were attempts to "transfer activities of Albanian terrorist groups from Kosovo to southern Serbia". "Serbia threatened by Albanian terrorism" Addressing the European Police Chiefs Convention, taking place in The Hague, the Serbian minister also stated that there was no personal and property safety or equality of citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, and that Serbs there did not enjoy a safe environment. Dacic informed his colleagues about a new form of terrorist activity in the Raska District - informally known as Sandzak - and mentioned the radical Islamist Wahhabi movement. 15 members of the movement have been arrested and sent to prison for planning terrorist attacks, Dacic said, and added that a large cache of explosives and weapons was seized during their arrest. The minister also urged joint action against terrorism in Europe, and noted that Serbia "on several occasions practically demonstrated its partnership" to this end. Attending the conference on Thursday, Dacic stated that Serbia's strategic goal was to sign a cooperation agreement with the European police (Europol), "which should be realized in the next two years". He stressed that the Serbian police cannot be a Europol member until Serbia becomes a EU member state. Cooperation with Europol implies a secure exchange of information on police operations, analyzing trends and new methods of discovering criminal acts, but also getting acquainted with new forensic techniques, which is very important for Serbia, Dacic stated. Ivica Dacic (file)

"Serbia threatened by Albanian terrorism"

Addressing the European Police Chiefs Convention, taking place in The Hague, the Serbian minister also stated that there was no personal and property safety or equality of citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, and that Serbs there did not enjoy a safe environment.

Dačić informed his colleagues about a new form of terrorist activity in the Raška District - informally known as Sandžak - and mentioned the radical Islamist Wahhabi movement.

15 members of the movement have been arrested and sent to prison for planning terrorist attacks, Dačić said, and added that a large cache of explosives and weapons was seized during their arrest.

The minister also urged joint action against terrorism in Europe, and noted that Serbia "on several occasions practically demonstrated its partnership" to this end.

Attending the conference on Thursday, Dačić stated that Serbia's strategic goal was to sign a cooperation agreement with the European police (Europol), "which should be realized in the next two years".

He stressed that the Serbian police cannot be a Europol member until Serbia becomes a EU member state.

Cooperation with Europol implies a secure exchange of information on police operations, analyzing trends and new methods of discovering criminal acts, but also getting acquainted with new forensic techniques, which is very important for Serbia, Dačić stated.