WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. national security adviser said Tuesday at an international meeting in Russia that nations must work together to eradicate transnational crime.
Gen. James L. Jones spoke on behalf of the Obama administration at a Security Council Gathering in Sochi, the White House said.
Jones said for nations to work collaboratively to rid the world of crime that knows no borders, they must protect citizens from the violence and abuse of criminal networks; help vulnerable nations fight corruption, break up state-crime relationships and foster good government; break the financial structures of criminal organizations; and build international cooperation and consensus.
Jones said in order to meet these goals, traditional law enforcement functions, such as investigations, prosecutions and information sharing should be strengthened; economies should be protected by keeping criminals away from the international financial system; new ways should be found to disrupt drug trafficking; borders should be better protected; those who facilitate criminal activities should be targeted; and partnerships should continue to be built within multilateral institutions.
To these ends, the United States strongly supports the U.N. Convention Against Corruption and the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, Jones said.
While stressing cooperation between all nations, Jones also welcomed the renewed warmer relationship between the United States and Russia.
