15 November 2002
Source: http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=02111404.wlt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml


US Department of State
International Information Programs

Washington File
_________________________________

14 November 2002

U.S., Poland Sign Agreement on Law Enforcement Cooperation

($1.3 million assistance package for police training, anti-corruption
measures) (430)

On November 13, the United States and Poland signed an agreement on
law enforcement cooperation that will provide funding for a variety of
crime-fighting and anti-corruption projects, as described in the
following State Department fact sheet:

(begin fact sheet)

Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 13, 2002

FACT SHEET: U.S.-POLAND LETTER OF AGREEMENT

On November 13, Acting Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics
and Law Enforcement Affairs Paul Simons and Polish Interior Minister
Krzysztof Janik signed a Letter of Agreement on law enforcement
cooperation. The signing ceremony was in the Treaty Room at the
Department of State.

Each of the projects contained in the Letter of Agreement
(Anti-Corruption Curriculum Development, Combating International
Organized Crime, Courtroom Security, Support to the Financial
Intelligence Unit, and Police Modernization and Training) will address
critical needs and allow Americans and Poles to work collaboratively.
The total value of the assistance package is $1,318,708.

The Police Modernization and Training project will be the centerpiece
of the State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs assistance over the next two years. This "back to the basics"
project will be conducted by the Department of Justice's International
Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. It will include a
needs assessment and subsequent work to develop a training and
assistance strategy, analyze existing internal control mechanisms, and
develop applicable codes of ethics.

Other active projects include the United States Marshals Service's
Courtroom Security project and the Treasury Office of Technical
Assistance project with the Department of Financial Information. The
United States Marshals Service has conducted an initial assessment and
is coordinating with Embassy Warsaw on a courtroom security training
session. The Treasury Office of Technical Assistance's regional
advisor has been working with the Polish Financial Intelligence Unit
to help Poland bring its anti-money laundering legislation in line
with international standards and in organizing well-received training
for financial intelligence unit analysts.

The Anti-Corruption Curriculum Development and Combating International
Organized Crime projects will be implemented following the signing of
the Letter of Agreement. The Anti-Corruption Curriculum project will
fund an advisor to the Ministry of National Education and Sport to
develop courses on such topics as professional responsibility, ethics,
and public corruption for incorporation into curricula at secondary
and professional schools and universities. The bulk of the funding for
the Combating International Organized Crime project will be used to
procure computer equipment for the Polish National Police
Headquarters' Central Bureau of Investigation to support
investigations and case management. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation's International Training Division will provide expert
advisory assistance in the area of investigating specific organized
criminal activity to complement the equipment procurement.

Released on November 13, 2002

(end fact sheet)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)