AZG Armenian Daily #085, 12/05/2005
Interpol
‘CRIMINALS’ SEARCH REMAINS OUR PRIORITY’
Armenia became a full member of Interpol in 1993. The head of National
Central Bureau of Interpol (NCB), Vartan Yeghiazarian called a press
conference yesterday to present the works of the Bureau to journalists. He
complained that the mass media misinterprets the Bureau’s activities. “We
don’t have James Bonds, we do not investigate, we are simply contributing to
the work of investigative services of member states”, Mr. Yeghiazarian said.
Thanks to the operative actions of the Armenian Police, in 1998-2000
location of 976 criminals in Interpol member states was revealed, 769 of
which were detained and 265 extradited. In 2004, 431 people were under
investigation, 168 of which were discovered, 162 were detained. Today, there
are 265 criminals wanted. The website of the Interpol Armenian branch has
posted data of the 13 most important ones. From March of 2004, the NCB has
discovered 69 vehicles hijacked from abroad and 2 pieces of art from overall
36 in search were returned to their owners.
Mr. Yeghiazarian said that their organization is stressing the struggle
against terrorism, trafficking and drugs. “Though we are engaged in
investigation of all kinds of crimes, criminals’ search remains our
priority”, he emphasized. Though the local branch of Interpol exchanges
information with all 182 member states, relations with European countries
are more intensive. Mr. Yeghiazarian said that they face problems connected
with trafficking in Arab Unite Emirates (3 of 9 procurers were found and
extradited) and with numerous cases of prostitution in Turkey.
Mr. Yeghiazarian said that NCB will hold an important meeting in June where
they will discuss issues of connecting to I-24/7 new telephone system. The
new system will enable quick and high-quality connection with the general
secretariat and the member states.
By Gohar Gevorgian