Cyprus and France join forces against organised crime

CYPRUS and France yesterday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on combating organised crime.

The Memorandum was today signed by Attorney General Petros Clerides and French Director for Criminal Affairs and Pardons Maryvonne Caillibotte, in the presence of Minister of Justice Loucas Louca, Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou and French Ambassador to Cyprus Jean Marc-Rives.

Speaking after the ceremony, Clerides said the Memorandum provided for the setting up of joint action groups to facilitate the establishment of a flexible body that would combat organised crime, which in many instances is associated with terrorism.

”We consider this agreement as an important development because it is the first such agreement signed in relation to this issue and I believe that this agreement is particularly important as it is signed with France, one of the major EU member-states, a country, with which our ties are close and we hope to enhance them even further,” he said.

Clerides said he was certain ”the agreement will constitute an important tool in the hands of the competent authorities and especially of the Police in the effort to combat crime and particularly cross-border crime.”

On her part, Caillibotte said the signing of the memorandum was particularly important as Cyprus will assume the EU Presidency in the second half of 2012.

”This Memorandum which will lead to the establishment of a joint group is extremely important for security in Europe, for justice and of course the security of the citizens of the European Union,” she said, adding that this protocol will lead to the establishment of a group which will assist the police and other competent authorities in a bid to combat cross-border and organized crime”.

Concluding, Caillibotte said the signing of the agreement as such is extremely important, adding that ”what’s more important is the operation of this joint group which would assist in solving crimes and lead the perpetrators to justice.”