Joint operations against illegal circulation of drugs are being conducted by the GUAM/SECI (Southeast European Cooperation Initiative). On May 11, 2006 in Bucharest GUAM National Centre participated in the 11th Meeting of the Working Group for combating drug addiction of the SECI regional Centre for combating trans-border crime. According to the protocol of the 11-th meeting of the Working Group operation "Containment V", planned for the period from July 9 to July 16 of the current year, meant strengthening of border control. With that end in view following check-points were selected - Lagodekhi (Georgia-Azerbaijan), Red Bridge (Georgia-Azerbaijan), Sarpi (Georgia-Turkey) and Poti (sea port). From the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia the GUAM National Law Enforcement Center and the Special Operative Department took part in the operation; while the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was obliged to conduct a control. During the operation "Containment V" in the result of conducted joint measures no facts of taking into and out of suspicious vehicles, narcotics, arms, ammunition or other forbidden goods were recorded in Georgia. By participation in the operation "Containment V" the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia expressed its willingness to support the joint measures within the frames of SECI/GUAM cooperation and in this way to make its contribution to combating trans-border crime.
On December 7, 2006 the third meeting of the Working Group of the SECI/GUAM (South East European Cooperation Initiative) on combating terrorism was held in Istanbul. The Turkish party coordinates the SECI member countries in the sphere of combating terrorism.
The aim of the Working Group included:
- National laws in the sphere of combating terrorism and their harmonization with international standards;
- Cooperation among intelligence services, national law enforcement, including customs and border police.
The meeting was chaired Mr. Aleksandru Ionas, Head of Operational Maintenance Department, Deputy Director of the SECI Center. The representatives of SECI/GUAM member states, as well as Europol, NATO, UNMIK, Stability Pact participated in the meeting.
The Participants of the meeting offered presentations concerning terrorism in SECI/GUAM member countries, specialized services of combating terrorism, legal basis of their functions, cooperation on the international and agency levels.
Envisaged under the meeting agenda, Georgian representative presented Counter-Terrorist Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, its functions, statistics of the Center, international cooperation of the Center, as well as conventions in the sphere of terrorism ratified by Georgia. The participants were also informed on legislative initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to adopt law on combating terrorism in the nearest future. The participants of the meeting were notified about aspects and priorities of the cooperation of the GUAM law enforcement agencies in the sphere of terrorism.
In the meeting of the Working Group, the effort of the GUAM member countries to combat terrorism was emphasized, which was positively evaluated by the SECI representatives. In addition, it was mentioned that the GUAM member countries actively would participate in joint activities; they would like to develop working practice of the SECI and EUROPOL. It was suggested that the GUAM law enforcement agencies would again actively take part in the activities conducted within the framework of the SECI.
The following recommendations were made at the end of the meeting:
- To carry out strategic assessment on organized crime and terrorism threats;
- To identify and promote a common understanding of the best practices for fighting against organized crime and terrorism;
- To enhance cooperation among intelligence services, national law enforcement agencies, including customs and border police, and first responders (i.e. the fire brigade and other civil emergency services);
- To establish a SEE program for an early warning system in fighting organized crime and terrorism and to create a security general rapid alert system;
- To conduct and disseminate timely analysis of terrorist attacks and to research possible links to SEE countries, as well as to share lessons learned;
- If needed, to organize training courses and best practices in fight against terrorism and to exchange among the SECI members;
- To acquire the ability to carry out risk analysis and assessment of the regional threats;
- To cooperate further with INTERPOL, EUROPOL, WCO, FBI and other national and international organizations with a view to allowing information exchange, access to databases and joint operations;
- To improve the communication network, including transmission of the classified information, to set up a videoconference system between the member countries;
- To improve cooperation with judicial authorities and to support the South East European Prosecutor Advisory Group (SEEPAG);
- To create a network of national contact persons related to terrorism, including intelligence service, police and prosecutor office, who should meet and exchange information within the framework of SECI Center Anti-terrorism Task Force;
- To use communication system of the SECI Center for the information exchange.