Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro continues to face challenges in the fight against organized crime and corruption, which remains one of the key tests on the country’s EU accession path, said Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic and asked for Interpol’s support in the fight against crime and investigating the origin of assets.

According to the press release from his office, Milatovic met on Wednesday in Paris with Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.

Urquiza commended Montenegro’s efforts in strengthening institutions and combating crime, emphasizing that Interpol is ready to provide additional support and expertise to Montenegrin authorities through capacity building and information exchange.

Milatovic reiterated that Montenegro faces challenges in the fight against organized crime and corruption, which is one of the key tests on the country’s EU path.

“Unfortunately, we have witnessed cases where individuals who were supposed to protect the law, in the prosecutor’s office, the police and the judiciary, were themselves part of the networks that collapsed it. That is why the integrity of people in the security and judicial system is crucial. We saw how important it is for institutions to remain clean, strong and resistant to abuse”, Milatovic emphasized.

He added that this strengthens the trust of both citizens and partners.

Milatovic emphasized that Montenegro urgently needs an anti-mafia law and requested the support and assistance of Interpol in verifying the origin and monitoring of assets of suspicious origin.