FM: Georgia can be used as transit area for criminals

Georgia can be used as a transit area for criminals, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said at an international conference on strengthening cooperation in the field of prevention of terrorism, held in Baku.

"Establishing the international partnership is important in terms of intensifying the dialogue to increase efficiency of combating the terrorism," she said. "Our activity must comply with the legislation."

Panjikidze expressed concern that Georgian territory can be used as a transit route for criminal gangs. She stressed that it is necessary to use international mechanisms to combat this problem.

"We understand the concern of the international community on this issue," she said. "The problem is important for us. We are taking action to strengthen national security. In particular, we are strengthening the work of law enforcement bodies, border services and anti-terrorist groups. The security is being increased in the border areas and crossings."

Panjikidze stressed that a special organisation which is engaged in freezing the accounts belonging to various criminal groups and preventing the sale of arms was established to effectively implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

She said that a special terrorist center has been set up under the Ministry.

"Georgia has begun to develop a national strategy to combat terrorism," she said. "An inter-departmental working group was created to develop its strategy."
She added that Georgia actively cooperates with the relevant UN organizations in this regard.

"Today, there are areas that are not accountable to various countries and are uncontrolled," she said. "They become a safe haven for criminals. The international organizations should pay attention to this."

While speaking of cyber-terrorism, she stressed that the terrorists' sabotage in cyberspace can have a negative impact on the normal functioning of the national economy and defense sphere.


/Trend/