PRISTINA: CONFERENCE ON FIGHT AGAINST TOBACCO SMUGGLING STARTS

PRISTINA, May 10 (Hina) - Representatives of finance ministries from countries in the region gathered in Pristina on Friday for a conference on the prevention of tobacco smuggling, which is held under the auspices of the U.N. Mission to Kosovo. #L# The conference is attended by representatives from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia. Tobacco smuggling causes losses of between 1.5 and 2.7 million euros monthly or almost 20 million euros annually, UN Civil Administrator in Kosovo Michael Steiner said opening the conference. The conference is a step towards creating a new image of the region, Steiner said. Smuggling knows no borders which is why all Balkan countries should cooperate in its prevention, he added. The head of the Kosovo customs administration, John Robertson, spoke about the problem of smuggling and its economic and financial effects as well as the region's ability to fight it. The conference is held behind closed doors. A news conference is expected at the end of the event. (hina) rml