The objective of the International Relations Department (MIA IRD) is to facilitate the capacity building within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in 3 main directions: international legal cooperation, Euro-Atlantic cooperation and donor coordination.
The report focused on important achievements in these 3 directions, which were directly initiated or facilitated by the MIA IRD.
With regards to international legal cooperation, in 2013 Ministry of Internal Affairs concluded 3 international multilateral and 12 international bilateral agreements in following 5 directions:
- Fight against crime/police cooperation;
- Exchange and mutual protection of classified information;
- Cooperation in the management of emergency situations;
- Mutual recognition of driving licenses;
- Readmission;
It is noteworthy, that according to the information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, in 2013 Georgia concluded 23 international bilateral agreements, out of which over half (12) was concluded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Moreover the number of concluded international agreements has been significantly increased within last years. (For example: in 2006 and 2007 – 4 agreements, 2008 – 0, 2009 – 1 agreement, 2010 – 4 agreements, 2011 and 2012 18 agreements and in 2013 – 15 agreements).
Within the framework of international legal cooperation, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is actively working to deepen reforms oriented cooperation by identifying channels of bilateral cooperation with partner countries. This envisages sharing European experience in reforming legislative framework within MIA competence, organizing expert/working group meetings and study visits for representatives of different structural units of MIA.
In terms of regional cooperation, among significant activities that took place in 2013 are following:
- Working group on fight against cybercrime was created within the framework of GUAM;
- Analytical documents were elaborated on fight against trafficking in human beings and narcotics;
- Within the framework of Organization on Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), regional action plan on fight against corruption was elaborated.
MIA IRD initiated and actively participated in the elaboration of various legislative acts, new Law “on Police”, which was adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on October 4, 2013.
With the aim of reflecting main principles and procedures of international law-enforcement cooperation envisaged by international agreements in Georgian legislation, MIA IRD elaborated law of Georgia “on international law enforcement cooperation”. The Parliament of Georgia adopted this law on October 4, 2013.
New draft law “on state secrets” is in the process of elaboration;
In March of 2013, modules for basic trainings on corruption were elaborated;
MIA IRD also actively participated in the elaboration of Statute of Temporary Accommodation Center for irregular migrants and concept and structure of migration service within MIA patrol police department. Extensive research was carried out on best practices and international standards, which were taken into account during the design of Temporary Accommodation Center.
MIA IRD coordinates implementation of obligations within MIA competence, undertaken within the framework of cooperation with EU and NATO.
In February, 2013 was presented to Georgia officially received Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP). Among obligations foreseen by VLAP it is significant to mention regulating issue of personal data protection in the police sector. For this purpose, with the coordination of MIA IRD intra agency working group was created which elaborated “Instruction on processing and protection of personal data in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia”, which is based on the Law of Georgia on Protection of Personal Data and considers standards established by the Recommendation No. R (87) 15 of the Committee of Ministers Regulating the Use of Personal Data in Police Sector;
The International Relations Department (MIA IRD) was also actively involved in the elaboration of the Strategy and Action Plan on the Fight against Organized Crime, which was adopted on October 2, 2013.
With the direct coordination of the MIA IRD, Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) of use of Digital Evidence in the fight against Cybercrime and specialized training modules on problematic issues in fights against computer crime were elaborated. The MIA IRD is currently working on elaboration of training courses on International Police Law on Combating Organized Crime.
In June 2013, with the aim to raise public awareness on the progress of Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP), the MIA IRD organized International Conference “The road to Euro integration – Role of Law Enforcement Institutions”. The mentioned Conference was funded by the EU (TAIEX and IOM). The participants of the conference were 20 representatives of relevant governmental structures and ministries of EU and Eastern Partnership Countries as well as Georgia
On October 9-11, 2013 EU Expert mission visited Georgia to assess the progress achieved by Georgia in fulfillment of obligations of VLAP Block 1 and Block 2 (Document Security, Integrated Border Management and Migration); according to the final conclusions of the Mission, Georgia has successfully accomplished obligations envisioned by Block 1 and Block 2 of the VLAP.
The IRD was involved in elaboration of model text of Agreement on Readmission of Persons from Third Countries, which is undergoing internal procedures and was sent to the following countries through diplomatic channels: Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, India, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka. The negotiations are being finalized and the draft agreements are ready to be signed with Moldova and Denmark and negotiations are underway with Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In the view of the activities conducted towards Georgia’s Atlantic integration, it is important to note the “Port Call” of the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2). It should be noted that this was for the first time in Georgia-NATO relationship history that the NATO ships have visited Georgia (the visit envisions support to NATO partner Countries). The ships have conducted joint trainings with Georgian Border Guards, MOD Special Forces and MIA Emergency Management Department.
In March and May 2013, the MIA IRD organized the Ministers visit to Strasburg and Brussels. High level meetings were held with Council of Europe, EU and NATO officials, including with the Minister of Internal Affairs of Belgium, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, NATO Deputy General Secretary and Assistant to General Secretary.
Bilateral visits of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia were also organized to USA, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Israel, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, France, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
With regards to donor coordination, MIA IRD initiates and coordinates ongoing projects in the areas of border management, migration, fight against trafficking in human beings, combatting cybercrime, fight against domestic violence, combatting drug crimes, protection of basic human rights, rights of the children, gender equality and other directions.
In 2012-2013, 19 projects have been initiated and are implemented at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The funds raised within the framework of these projects amount to EUR 26 309 994 and USD 25 062 750, which is significant increase from 2010-2011 estimates.
MIA IRD also coordinates organization of specialized trainings and study visits for the MIA employees in different directions of law enforcement (combatting cybercrime, irregular migration, trafficking in human beings, terrorism, etc.) In 2013, 1682 MIA employees have been re-trained by the means of specialized trainings and study visits (compared to 2012 – 1390 employees re-trained, in 2011 – 811 and in 2010 – 540). In 2013 MIA IRD organized 6 events (conference, expert mission, study visit) utilizing EU technical assistance instrument TAIEX.
