site.btaBulgarian Interior Ministry, NYPD Sign Memorandum of Cooperation

Bulgarian Interior Ministry, NYPD Sign Memorandum of Cooperation

Sofia, December 20 (BTA) - During a visit to the US, Bulgarian Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Georgi Kostov conferred with New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said in a press release. During the meeting, the sides discussed aspects of cooperation between the Ministry and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), which the largest municipal police force in the US. Bilateral relations in the area of law enforcement were found to be successful and fruitful.

The sides signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding between the Bulgarian Interior Ministry and the NYPD on cross-border crime prevention and control. The Memorandum was agreed at a working meeting of Bulgarian Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova with Bratton on October 2, during her official visit to the US. "Its conclusion will build on and further existing cooperation and, at the same time, it will enable the sides to make their own contribution to the international community's crime combating efforts," according to the press release.

Later in the day, Chief Secretary Kostov and Chief Directorate National Police Director 
Hristo Terziiski toured the Lower Manhattan Security Coordination Center and were familiarized with the functioning of the NYPD Facial Recognition Unit and Joint Operations Center.