News Release
21.01.2010
MW. Today corruption, terrorism, human traffic, illegal circulation of weapons and drugs, legalization of criminal incomes go beyond national borders. The organized criminal groups develop themselves to international criminal communities whose criminal interests concern dozens of states in Europe, America and Asia. The international cooperation and struggle against the transnational criminality is on the agenda of the today's broadcast of the program "Conversation with the Minister".
- Rashid Gumarovich, let's start with the latest events in pursuance of the international cooperation of the Ministry of Interior of Russia, you've met your Belarus colleague Anatoly Kuleshov in Minsk lately. How would you attest the relationships of the Ministry of Interior of Russia and the Ministry of Interior of Belarus? What questions were yoo engaged with?
Minister. I would call our relations rather good. We discussed the issues of developing a uniform information field of law enforcement bodies within the limits of the Allied state. We perfectly understand that the sooner we change to the electronic information exchange procedure the more considerably our reaction and therefore the efficiency of the teamwork will increase.
We also discussed the issue of safeguarding transported cargoes. Along one of key transport arteries, the motorway "Moscow-Brest" we created a so-called "safety corridor". Here we already apply modern technologies and technologies such as navigation and monitoring systems which enable us to trace the expedition of cargoes in the real time mode and to react accordingly in case of offences against these cargoes. Also, the issue of training and retraining personnel was also discussed. On these and many other things we reached specific agreements which will be to implement in the near future.
MW. As far as is known, questions of creating a Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan were also discussed during the negotiations. Will a uniform customs area and in the long term, a uniform economic area have an effect on the mutual relations of law enforcement bodies of the three countries?
Minister. It is already the establishment of the Customs Union that was already an important stage in the development of the cooperation between the law enforcement bodies of our states. Due to the elimination of the customs restrictions the incorporated economy will certainly gain a new momentum for development.
We, employees of law enforcement bodies, are to be aware that the Customs union will certainly be attractive for members of transnational organized criminal groupings. Therefore, it is necessary for us to get down to the prevention of these phenomena already today and to struggle against factors provoking such crimes.
MW. How is the cooperation with other CIS countries carried out? Are there any priorities here?
Minister. As a whole, the cooperation with the CIS countries covers virtually all aspects of our joint operational activity, starting from the investigation of criminal cases, the exchange of information, up to equipping the law enforcement bodies and police with special means and motor vehicles. The main coordinating body in this sphere is now the Ministerial Council of internal affairs of countries participating in the CIS. Under its management all necessary work is being performed to unite efforts of the Commonwealth's countries in the law enforcement sphere and local operative preventive measures are taken.
MW. By the way, besides the ordinary CIS countries, we have two young states on the world map, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Are there plans for the Ministry of Interior of Russia to come into contact with their colleagues in these countries?
Minister. Efforts are being made in this respect. Last year we concluded essential cooperation agreements with the Ministry of Interior of Abkhazia and the Ministry of Interior of South Ossetia and planned joint action schedules.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, coming to the countries of the so-called far abroad regions. How are relations built up with colleagues of Europe, America and the East?
Minister. The modern reality, certainly gives a powerful reason for integrating efforts in struggle against the international criminality. Therefore, the Ministry of Interior of Russia is developing communications channels with foreign countries both within the CIS and with other foreign states.
The greatest challenges for us in this respect are primarily such kinds of the international criminality, as the terrorism, the legitimization of proceeds of crimes, the human traffic, the international drug business and the corruption. What counts here is the international legislation and its perfection. For us it is very important to be guided by legal essentials of different states which would allow to searchá reveal and suppress the activity of transnational criminal groups.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, does the Ministry of Interior of Russia participate in any global international activities concerning interests of many states?
Minister. Yes, it does. First of all it means participation in the creation of collective operative reaction forces of the CSTO. The Ministry of Interior of Russia allocated a group of employees of the SWAT unit "Lynx" and the special militia forces "Bison" to bear constant service within it. It is noteworthy that the potential and capacities of the new structure was positively assessed by Presidents of the CSTO member countries. Besides, a new format of interaction of law enforcement bodies of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was started in 2009. Any contact to our foreign partners is a powerful contribution to the safety maintenance for the state and for each individual citizen.
Radio program "Conversation with the Minister",
Channel "Militia wave"
www.mvd.ru