SIPA

On 27 June 2013, the Delegation of the Republic of Austria visited the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), where they met with Mr Goran Zubac, Director of SIPA. The visit was a continuation of a successful inter-police cooperation. The Republic of Austria Delegation was headed by Mr Peter Gridling, Manager of the Austrian Federal Office for the Protection of Constitution and Counter-Terrorism. Mr Ottavio Bottecchia, the Attaché of the Austrian Ministry of Interior with his associates also attended the meeting.
They discussed combating terrorism in the country and the region, direct exchange of intelligence between police agencies and cooperation modalities in other areas as well.
The Director of SIPA presented important details about the operation of the Agency so far and particularly emphasised the latest activities carried out by SIPA in combating organised crime and corruption. He pointed out that priorities of the Agency were combating terrorism, organised crime, financial crime and corruption, and announced already initiated complex operations.
 

During this visit, the establishment of the Regional Centre for Combating Terrorism for the Balkans and beyond, in the framework of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, was also discussed. The Delegation of the Republic of Austria accepted this idea by SIPA and supported future joint actions in combating terrorism internationally. Mr Peter Gridling, Director of the Federal Austrian Office for the Protection of Constitution and Counter-Terrorism congratulated the Director Zubac on the establishment of the institution such as SIPA and awarded him with an embedded emblem.
The attendees of the meeting expressed their willingness to continue cooperation in combating all types of crime and terrorism in the Balkans.