Description: On 7th of October 2013, the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) celebrates its 2nd Anniversary Day. Two years ago, on this special day, SELEC Convention entered into force and a renewed dynamic and more efficient law enforcement organization was set up. On 7th of October 2011, SECI Center became SELEC, while its operational and strategic capabilities were maintained and transferred to SELEC.
SELEC inherits the success of SECI Center – 14 years of operational activities, joint investigations, meetings, workshops and strategic analysis covering the most sensitive trans-border criminal fields in the South Eastern European region. Throughout this period, the intensive exchange of information through the Liaison Officers and Center’s communication channels successfully supported the efforts of the law enforcement agencies in the Member States.
Remarks of Mr. Gürbüz Bahadır, Director General of SELEC,
on the occasion of 2nd Anniversary Day of SELEC
It is a great honor and a pleasure for me to address you on the occasion of the 2nd Anniversary Day of the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC).
Considering that it is traditional in such an event to look backwards, I am pleased to recall the day of 7th of October 2011, when the SECI Center became SELEC and the new Convention of the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center entered into force.
The SELEC Convention offers a broader legal basis for enhanced regional cooperation in the trans-border criminality field. The new Convention provides for SELEC to be a treaty-based organization and to establish, operate and maintain an information system, which secures and protects personal data.
On the occasion of this special anniversary, I would like to invite you to take the opportunity to look back over the past 14 years, when SECI Regional Center was established, and to reflect upon our accomplishments, to be pride of our progress and to express appreciation for our cooperation.
Throughout these years, our organization used to be a strong link and connection among the national law enforcement authorities of Police and Customs and other key actors in the fight against trans-national crime.
SECI Center/SELEC has animated the regional law enforcement arena from the very beginning and made things move ahead in the Police and Customs cooperation issues.
Since 2001, the operational activities increased considerably – from around 300 exchanges of requests and information in 2001 to more than 16,500 in 2012.
At the same time, SELEC is continuing to support the countries’ request for joint investigations – 69 joint investigations were supported along 2012, compared with 4 joint investigations in 2001, bringing together the investigation officers and prosecutors from member countries. There have been effective results out of this coordination in respect to the amount of the goods seized and suspected arrested.
SELEC operational activities are conducted within the frames of 8 Task Forces addressing issues of drugs and human beings trafficking, stolen vehicles, smuggling and customs fraud, financial and computer crimes, terrorism, container security and environmental and nature related crimes.
The successful results and achievements of our Center are natural consequence of the hard work and dedication of the Police and Customs Liaison Officers appointed to the Center.
On behalf of SELEC Management, I have the pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations to the Liaison Officers and the Police and Customs colleagues working in the field, as well as to the staff members, for these great achievements.
The past years’ experience proved that the Center has been able to provide support and prompt response to the Member States’ law enforcement authorities in their fight against trans-border crime in the Southeast European region, in order to become an area of freedom, security and justice