These results are to be seen as indicators of advancements in introducing communityoriented policing and in addressing inter-ethnic concerns countrywide. Comprehensive Security and Transnational Threats In 2014, in order to further support the Government’s capacity to prevent, detect and supress all forms of transnational threats, the PDU continued to support the MoIA in strengthening its institutional capacities in such areas as the fight against organized crime, counter-terrorism and border security and management. In this frame, in December 2014, the PDU supported a two-day exercise on combating organized crime, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia, host country MoIA and Serbian MoI. Fifty police officers from both Interior Ministries and representatives from the Public Prosecution Office participated. This activity tested the deployment of covert surveillance teams and equipment in a cross-border setting and cross-border co-operation of law enforcement personnel using a “real-life case scenario”. Such activity builds on project activity from 2013 by introducing an alternate scenario and setting. As a result of this activity, the authorized MoIA officials have strengthened their co-ordination skills and enriched their experience in dealing with suppression of organized crime groups operating in the region. Counter-Terrorism In 2014, the PDU continued its collaboration with the General Directorate of Turkish National Police (GDTNP) to organize training courses for improving the operational capacity of the Administration for Security and Counter-intelligence (ASC) of the MoIA and to facilitate preventive measures in the fight against terrorism. In total, over 140 police officers were trained in 2014 on counter-terrorism-related topics, including “crisis management during terrorist attacks” and “hostage negotiation”. In addition, in June 2014, the MS PDU supported the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department in holding a seminar on violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism (VERLT) in Skopje. During this seminar, the importance of detecting potential targets of VERLT was underlined. Border Security and Management In 2014, the Monitoring Unit and the PDU facilitated regular Joint Border Coordination Meetings (JBCMs) in a co-operative manner. The meetings served as a forum for dialogue and information sharing on border security concerns. By practice, such meetings are attended by the main stakeholders from all sides: Kosovo26 Border Police (KBP), host country Border Police, KFOR, US Embassy Skopje and the OSCE Mission. The PDU focused on supporting the MoIA in the establishment of a “Common Contact Centre” (CCC) at the border crossing point of Blace. The PDU provided technical equipment and organized a two-day training for police officers to be deployed at the Centre in April 2014, including a field study trip to the CCC at the border with Bulgaria. The CCC - Blace started its operations on 1 October 2014. As a result, the cross-border co-operation has been strengthened, contributing to a better exchange of analytical and operational information to fight transnational organized crime. 26 All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or populations, in this text should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. 111