traffickers was emphasized as the weakest point. In view of the fact that Montenegro has been receiving many irregular migrants, who were using Montenegro mainly as a transit country to reach Europe, it was considered vital for Montenegrin officials to establish a direct contact with their Turkish counterparts, in order to have a better co-operation and communication between the agencies. In 2013, the Mission also assisted the NCO in preparing, and publishing indicators for identifying victims of human trafficking. This assistance improved existing mechanisms and helped authorities to identify victims more effectively. The Mission facilitated and participated in the ceremony for the signing of the revised Agreement on Co-operation of State Institutions and NGOs to combat THB. Drug Trafficking During 2013, in support of the Government’s efforts to raise awareness amongst young people regarding abuse and trafficking of drugs, the Mission supported the printing and distribution of 20,000 leaflets on the consequences of drug abuse. The information project, undertaken jointly with the Police Directorate and the NGO Preporod, also entailed the Mission’s co-operation with civil society representatives and police investigators dealing with drug crimes, in delivering ten lectures on this topic at secondary schools and universities. The activity was a follow-up to a seminar organized by the Mission on latest psycho-active substances in September 2012. Border Policing In 2013, the Mission, in line with the OSCE Border Security and Management Concept, continued to support the development of regional cross border co-operation through organizing regional cross-border co-operation meetings of the Montenegrin authorities with the border police services of Albanian, BiH, and Serbia. The Mission assisted the Montenegrin authorities in organizing two two-day regional training courses for police officers working at the border crossing points and as members of joint patrols. The training courses were tailored to the Border Police’s needs at the both side of the borders and the main topic concerned was irregular migrations. Some 20 police officers participated in each of the courses. On 17 January, the Mission, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, facilitated a cross-border co-ordination meeting between respective delegations of Montenegrin and Albanian border police services in Skodra, Albania. Delegations discussed the implementation of existing agreements between Albania and Montenegro; an analysis of joint patrols and operations in 2012; the functioning of the joint border crossing point MuriqanSukobin; as well as the issue of managing the influx of people in the winter holiday season. The two delegations agreed that joint patrols should be more result-oriented, that planning had to be based on risk management and that regular and direct meetings were having a positive impact on enhancing border security. On 23 January, the Mission, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, organized a meeting between delegations of Montenegrin and Albanian border police services at the central headquarters levels. During the meeting, held in Skodra, Albania, both delegations discussed legislation aimed at establishing a joint border police centre for exchanging information. On 8 May, the Mission, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, facilitated a cross-border co-ordination meeting between delegations of Montenegrin and Albanian border police services, in Ulcinj, Montenegro. Topics discussed included an assessment of current 78

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