15/05/2023

A training course named Joint capacity-strengthening efforts: Border protection and respect of human rights has begun today in the Agency for Education and Professional Training (AEPTM). The training is a result of cooperation of AEPTM with the Croatian Police Academy Prvi hrvatski redarstvenik.  In the next days, the Croatian Academy lecturers – police officers Krešimir Kaniža, Robert Kralj, Martina Grdinić and Aleksandar Čubrilo will work together with police officers of the Border Police of BiH using the equipment they brought and installed for this training.

The training is conducted according to the Joint Curriculum that has been signed today by the leading persons of the Police Academy Prvi hrvatski redarstvenik  and Agency for Education and Professional Training, Josip Ćelić and Marko Vujević. It comes as a result of the Agreement of Police Cooperation and Countering Cross-border Crime signed by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2010.

The training is carried out according to FRONTEX standards and demonstrates and supports the best practice in performing border police activities in the segment of border protection and compensation measures. A large part of the training is based on the state border protection simulation exercises, while theoretical materials will be taught in real situations, which is the best way to apply best practices to the activities of police officers.

''These are joint efforts toward strengthening capacities and protecting borders while respecting human rights. We are very proud to be a part of the project you lead. I  believe we will further develop our partnership through more training courses of this kind,“ stated Marko Vujević, Director of AEPTM while signing the curriculum. He added that we all could learn a lot from the Croatian colleagues and the Republic of Croatia as an EU and NATO member.

Having conveyed the greetings from the Croatian Interior Minister, Davor Božinović and Croatian Police Director Nikola Milina, Director of the Croatian Police Academy, Josip Ćelić stated that Minister Božinović was encouraging international cooperation with the BiH colleagues.

''Cooperation is the strategic priority of the Croatian Police. The Department of Police Education Development and International Cooperation, known for its remarkable experience and quality of work,  is one of eight departments of the Academy,'' stated Director Ćelić while speaking about his colleagues who are now giving the training course for 19 border police officers of BiH.

''From the beginning of the migrant crisis in 2015, the Croatian police officers had to deal with many challenging tasks which were completed on October 22, 2019, when the Croatian police fulfilled the technical requirements to enter the Schengen area. It was a painstaking and long process. Yet, owing to these people, the educators, who taught and trained our colleagues in Croatia, we accomplished that goal. We wish you too to accomplish your goals as quickly as possible, with as few mistakes as possible. The Croatian Police Academy is at your disposal,'' Ćelić said.

The Department of Police Education Development and International Cooperation, led by Mirjana Abramović, has been working to identify security challenges, recognize the needs on the field, and consequently draft professional education programmes, as one of the EU's leaders.

'The task you are carrying out requires hard work and responsibility. I believe that we can give you a lot with our knowledge. I also believe that my colleagues will learn a lot from you,'  stated Josp Ćelić in his address to the training course participants.