Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu underlined the importance of activities carried out together with the FBI, with an emphasis on combating cross-border organised crime, particularly drug trafficking and cybercrime, during the meeting he had on Tuesday with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel.

'The Ministry of Internal Affairs pays particular attention to dismantling criminal networks which, including through activities carried out on the territory of Romania, affect the safety of citizens in both states. At the same time, the objective of strengthening cooperation with the American side was reiterated through intensifying the exchange of information and good practices, as well as through the development of partnerships aimed at increasing resilience in the face of hybrid threats and the phenomenon of disinformation,' the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

The two sides decided to set up a task force to develop the existing cooperation, aimed at stimulating the exchange of information and data regarding the fight against organised crime, illegal migration, cyber threats and illegal activities carried out by hostile state actors.

'We already cooperate very well with the FBI on multiple directions in combating crime, to ensure increased security for our communities. The development of this cooperation can only be beneficial for the efficiency of our joint operations, which align with national priorities, namely countering organised crime, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings and weapons, cybercrime, terrorism and illegal migration,' Minister Catalin Predoiu is quoted as saying.

According to the release, the FBI director appreciated the very good cooperation between the two partners, Romania being a true ally in the region, an equal partner with whom there is a desire to further develop the existing relations.

In addition, alongside operational priorities, the professional training component was an important subject of the discussions.

'In this regard, cooperation with the FBI in the area of professional training contributes to strengthening the capacity of Romanian authorities to manage increasingly complex challenges, based on technical expertise and shared responsibility, in a context in which criminal activity is becoming ever more sophisticated and internationally integrated. Within this framework, the two officials agreed to analyse concrete possibilities for incorporating, within the curriculum of students of the Police Academy, certain themes and training models used by the FBI Academy in Quantico, relevant to subsequent professional activity,' the quoted source shows.

Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu on Tuesday had a meeting with FBI Director Kash Patel, during a visit to the United States alongside a delegation that also included Romania's Ambassador to the US, His Excellency Andrei Muraru, Director General within the MAI Nusa Coman, as well as MAI Attaché for Internal Affairs in the US Daniel Raucea.

The dialogue took place within the framework of the existing institutional relationship with the FBI, based on common interests and convergent objectives, aimed at strengthening the exchange of information and professional cooperation in order to manage current challenges. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Alexandru Florea; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)