VIENNA: CROATIAN JUSTICE MINISTER SPEAKS AT 13TH SESSION OF UN COMMISSION

VIENNA, May 11 (Hina) - Better results in the prevention of crime and terrorism can be achieved through joint efforts and Croatia is intensifying cooperation with countries in the region and EU member states, Croatian Justice Minister Vesna Skare Ozbolt said addressing the participants in the session of the UN Commission for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice which started in Vienna on Tuesday.#L# "Organised crime and terrorism represent a threat to every man, country and mankind in general. That's a global problem which needs to be efficiently prevented on the domestic and national as well as regional and global front," Skare Ozbolt said addressing senior officials at the session. She stressed that the point of this international meeting was to start combating all forms of crime and terrorism through joint efforts, and added that in that regard Croatia was intensifying cooperation with countries in the region and EU member-states The minister informed the Commission, which is comprised of 40 member states including Croatia and delegations of observer countries, of Croatia's cooperation with the U.N. in combating all forms of crime, terrorism, organised transnational crime, corruption and drug smuggling, as well as of the steps Croatia had taken to adjust to its legal system to the conventions of the UN and the Council of Europe. She invited the participants to attend an international workshop to be held in Croatia next year. The workshop, called "International Cooperation Against Terrorism and Struggle Against Transnational Crime", will be attended by representatives of countries in the region who are expected to adopt an action plan. They will also inform other participants of what has been done in their country regarding the adjustment of national legislation systems to international standards in connection with the struggle against terrorism and organised crime. Later today, Skare Ozbolt is expected to meet the executive director of the UN Office for struggle against crime and drug abuse, Antonia Maria Costa. (Hina) it