Republic of Macedonia and other Western Balkan states follow the global trends in organized crime prevention. Reforms undertaken in Macedonia aim towards increasing the efficiency of law enforcement and judiciary bodies, as well as enhancement of regional and international cooperation among states, said Justice Minister Blerim Bexheti at the conference of Southeast Europe home affairs and justice ministers "Regional and Transnational Cooperation in Fight against Organized Crime in Southeast Europe - Challenges and Achievements", held in Belgrade on November 29-30.

Minister Bexheti and Serbian counterpart Snezana Malovic are set to sign three agreements - on legal assistance in civil and criminal cases, on extradition, and on mutual execution of court judgments in the criminal matter.

This agreement on legal assistance in civil and criminal cases encompasses a larger scope, facilitates and accelerates international cooperation, the Justice Ministry said in a press release.

A significant novelty in the extradition agreement is the possibility to extradite nationals for crimes in the field of organized crime, corruption and money laundering. This removes the possibility of avoiding trial or execution of a prison sentence for heaviest crimes by using and hiding behind the citizenship.