SARAJEVO, Oct 1 (Hina) - Interior ministries of Bosnia-Herzegovina's two entities has recently decided to set up a joint body, the task of which is to fight against organised crime and illegal migrations over frontiers. The agreement
on the establishment of the joint working group was reached by the Croat-Moslem-Federation's Interior Minister, Mehmed Zilic, and his counterpart in the Republic of Srpska, Sredoje Novic, last week, after they concluded that the fight against organised crime had been ineffective. The joint working group - consisting of two senior officials from each interior ministry in the entities and a police representative from the District of Brcko and the State Border Service (DGS) - is expected to co-ordinate operations and ensure the exchange of information in the fight against terrorism, smuggling, prostitution, human beings' smuggling, theft of cars, forgery and d
SARAJEVO, Oct 1 (Hina) - Interior ministries of Bosnia-
Herzegovina's two entities has recently decided to set up a joint
body, the task of which is to fight against organised crime and
illegal migrations over frontiers.
The agreement on the establishment of the joint working group was
reached by the Croat-Moslem-Federation's Interior Minister,
Mehmed Zilic, and his counterpart in the Republic of Srpska,
Sredoje Novic, last week, after they concluded that the fight
against organised crime had been ineffective.
The joint working group - consisting of two senior officials from
each interior ministry in the entities and a police representative
from the District of Brcko and the State Border Service (DGS) - is
expected to co-ordinate operations and ensure the exchange of
information in the fight against terrorism, smuggling,
prostitution, human beings' smuggling, theft of cars, forgery and
drug trafficking and other kinds of crime.
A spokesman for the UN mission in Sarajevo described the coo-
ordination as especially important for the break of chains of
illegal immigrants from the East towards western Europe.
The spokesman Douglas Coffman told a news conference last Thursday
that the illegal emigration was an increasingly serious problem in
Bosnia particularly with citizens from Iran and Turkey.
He cited an instance when only from 19 to 25 September Croatian
police had returned 294 illegal immigrants to Bosnia in accordance
with an agreement on re-admission.
According to data which the UN mission in Bosnia possesses, since
the beginning of this year 18,718 persons with Iranian or Turkish
passports have entered Bosnia. All of them have arrived via
airports in Sarajevo or in Tuzla, and of them only 3,795 left Bosnia
further by air.
The remaining 15,000 people have just disappeared and we have no
data on their possible whereabouts, Coffman said.
The problem is likely to assume larger proportions, as recently new
regular charter lines has been established between Sarajevo and
Bucharest and between Mostar and Istanbul.
Authorities in Bosnia have received requests for the approval of
additional charter flights and most passengers who arrive from
Romania and Turkey by air are believed to be potential illegal
emigrants heading for the West.
Some number of 'illegals' come by land to Bosnia from Yugoslavia
(Serbia/Montenegro). Those are mainly Chinese nationals who first
arrive in Belgrade by air and then proceed via Bosnia towards the
West.
Coffman added that the international community's representatives
in Bosnia agree that Sarajevo must introduce a stricter regime for
entry visas as well as take other necessary measures to thwart the
massive transit of illegal emigrants.
(hina) ms