BRUSSELS, May 29 (UPI) -- Post-communist violence in the Balkans has decreased, but organized crime continues, according to a report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime.
The UNODC report, released Thursday, says the Balkans region is experiencing a drop in the levels of homicide, robbery and rape, among other crimes against people and property after the post-communist violence and instability.
Despite the progress, the region continues to be threatened by government and business ties to organized crime, the UNODC report reported.
"The vicious circle of political instability leading to crime, and vice versa, that plagued the Balkans in the 1990s has been broken," Antonio Maria Costa, UNODC executive director, said in a statement.
"(However) the region remains vulnerable to instability caused by enduring links between business, politics and organized crime."
The report calls organized crime dangerous and says security in the future will depend on strengthening the rule of law and enhancing efforts to pursue criminals.
