“The Strategy for Fighting Financial Crime aims to protect public goods from robbery by an irresponsible political elite, promote the system of repressive bodies which ought to combat corruption and serve as a preventive measure in all potential situations the Republic of Serbia will be facing in the future”, said Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković at today’s opening of the final Public Debate on the Financial Crime Investigation Strategy held at the Palace of Serbia.

Selaković stressed that, for the first time ever, Serbia was adopting a comprehensive strategy which prescribed measures for fighting financial crime, noting that the need for the implementation of such measures had been existing for many years.

Speaking about the Strategy, Selaković explained that it was based on three pillars – specialisation, improved cooperation and knowledge. He said that the most talented individuals needed to be identified and given the best conditions to fight financial crime. “What is needed is a concentration of the best human and technical resources in the strong four regional centres in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac, all of whom will be fighting financial crime together with the special prosecutor’s office”, stressed Selaković.

“Serbia must introduce two important ways of financial crime investigation cooperation between public authorities: the communication officers and the action groups”, stated Selaković. He added that communication officers in the Tax Office, Customs Office and Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering constantly needed to be present at the public prosecutor’s office and act as a bridge between their own institutions, the police and the prosecutor’s office.

Talking about the third Strategy pillar, Selaković emphasised that knowledge was the most valuable weapon in a successful battle against financial crime. “It is necessary that judges, prosecutors and police officers undergo continuous training on financial crime”, stated Selaković adding that the Judicial Academy was the institution originally established to provide professional training to judges and prosecutors.

Finally, Selaković said that the European Commission had also submitted its Opinion on the Strategy where it stated that, with the Strategy Draft, Serbia had not only succeeded in doing something the Commission had recommended to all Member States, but also that it was one of the few countries which did provide the recommended Draft.

In addition to Minister Selaković, the conference participants were also addressed by the Republic Prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Michael D. Kirby, Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport and the Council of Europe Head of Office in Belgrade Tim Cartwright.