OSCE Mission to Montenegro organizes training on international co-operation in management of temporarily seized assets
International co-operation in the management of temporarily seized assets was the focus of a two-day training course organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro for the Property Directorate Department for Seized and Confiscated Assets in Podgorica on 14 and 15 December 2017.
The ten staff members of the Property Directorate who participated in the training, which was led by a regional expert, discussed international co-operation in the management of seized commercial enterprises and procedures and requirements for selling and renting those enterprises. They studied practical examples of seized immovable and movable properties and co-operation with relevant domestic and international agencies, state authorities and organizations while undertaking the seizure of assets.
In his opening remarks, Robert Kucharski, Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme Manager in the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, reaffirmed the importance of international co-operation in the area of confiscated property as a part of fulfilling rule of law commitments. “The seizure and management of confiscated property is an important component of the fight against organized crime and especially money laundering. Seizing the profits of criminals is a powerful deterrent to crime. It demonstrates the determination of the state to fight organized crime and deprive any profits to be gained from crime.”
Emir Dacić, Deputy Director of the Property Directorate, emphasized the importance of the Directorate’s long-standing partnership with the OSCE Mission, and the importance of this type of training for the enhancement of the Property Directorate. “The enhancement of international and regional co-operation in the management of temporarily seized assets is one of the priorities recognized also by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance. This course presented our staff with an opportunity to exchange experiences and opinions on how to improve the work of the Directorate on a daily basis.”
The training is part of the Mission’s project on fostering the government’s efforts in judicial reform and the fight against organized crime and corruption.