Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina Selmo Cikotić and Ambassador of the Republic of France to B&H Christine Toudic today signed a Technical Agreement between the Ministry of Security of B&H and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of France on cooperation in combating illicit trade in firearms, ammunition and explosives.

The agreement will enable the continuation of cooperation initiated by specialized services, improve the exchange of information on illicit arms trade and strengthen the technical capacities of the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of crime processing techniques and forensics, the B&H Ministry of Security said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and France are committed to working together to combat these forms of crimes, especially because of the role that illicit trade in arms plays in the growth of international terrorism and transnational organized crime.

Ambassador Toudic pointed out that the signing of this new agreement testifies to France's commitment to bilateral and regional activities towards preventing and combating the illicit trade in weapons, ammunition and explosives.

-In this regard, Bosnia and Herzegovina is an important partner of France. The agreement also testifies to the joint efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and France to strengthen police cooperation, especially operational cooperation, in the fight against transnational organized crime that endangers the security of both countries, and the whole of Europe- said Toudic.

The Ministry of Security of B&H points out that the establishment of a permanent criminal intelligence network whose main mission is the prevention and fight against the illicit trade in firearms is planned for the coming period.