The United States and Hungary today joined forces in a comprehensive plan to intensify the attack on international organized crime and terrorism in Central Europe.

The plan, announced during the visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to FBI Headquarters in Washington, targets primarily international organized criminal groups that are either based in or active in Budapest, Hungary's capital. Because of its geographic location, Budapest historically has been a center of commerce and finance in the region. In recent years Budapest has seen the presence of organized -- and often violent -- criminal organizations that engage in a wide range of illegal activities affecting not only Hungary and other countries in Europe, but directly impact the United States. Last month, FBI Director Louis J. Freeh met with Prime Minister Orban, Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, and other senior Hungarian government and law enforcement officials in Budapest to discuss the common threat of organized crime, and to praise Hungary for its willingness to assert strong leadership in the international law enforcement arena.

Prime Minister Orban, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Peter Tufo, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States Geza Jeszensky, and Director Freeh announced a six-point assistance plan that provides a wide range of investigative support to Hungarian law enforcement, aimed at the goal of disrupting and dismantling crime groups. The support includes FBI Agents with an expertise in organized crime matters, expert laboratory and forensic assistance, criminal justice information systems support, and prosecutorial assistance for joint strike forces. It recognizes the commitment of the Hungarian government to address a problem that, if left unchecked, poses a direct threat to developing Hungarian institutions and, ultimately, all of Central Europe.

"A strong and committed international partnership is now in place which will allow us to move forward against a common enemy," Prime Minister Orban said. "For Hungary, it is a pivotal time in our history. We must preserve a healthy climate for business and commerce as we continue to move toward becoming a regional center in Central Europe. I fully support this plan because it takes us a major step in that direction."

Attorney General Reno said: "The United States is ready to meet the challenges posed by international criminals. We will succeed in this critically important part of the world just as we have here in the United States -- with investigative resolve and perseverance, laws that give us the tools to do the job, and a commitment to the rule of law."

Ambassador Tufo said: "Hungary is soon to be a member of NATO and a center for investment and trade in Central Europe. We cannot and will not allow Hungary to become a center for organized crime. Hungary will be a model for the region in how to defeat this pervasive crime problem -- before it is too late."
Director Freeh said: "The United States and Hungary enjoy a close law enforcement working relationship at every level. Beginning with shared commitment in 1994 to work together on emerging crime problems, to the opening of the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest in 1995, and through joint initiatives over time, Hungary has been a key law enforcement partner in Central Europe. This plan raises our relationship to a higher level by bringing our respective strengths to bear against a common enemy that threatens not just particular countries or regions, but all nations."

Freeh further stated: "Attorney General Reno, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the State Department deserve high praise for their forward thinking approach to international law enforcement issues."


Background of the U.S.-Hungary Relationship

While Hungary has been a key U.S. law enforcement partner for a number of years, efforts to develop a comprehensive, long-term and targeted investigative strategy have recently intensified.

Since his arrival in Budapest last fall, Ambassador Tufo has been a tireless advocate of U.S. cooperation with Hungarian authorities in a task force concept to attack international organized crime groups. He recognized early on that the threat posed by international criminals not only to the governmental, business and financial institutions in countries where they operate, but in today's global markets, represent a direct threat to American interests as well. The Ambassador recently worked closely with the Department of State to develop a training and technical assistance plan for Hungarian law enforcement.

In July 1998, a new government led by Prime Minister Orban took office in Hungary and has made security issues, particularly fighting organized crime, a top priority. Dr. Sandor Pinter, a career law enforcement professional and former head of the Hungarian National Police, was appointed Minister of the Interior. Dr. Pinter has long been a strong supporter of close U.S.-Hungarian bilateral cooperation and the International Law Enforcement Academy.

In 1994, Director Freeh led a delegation of federal law enforcement leaders in an unprecedented overseas mission to Central and Eastern Europe to determine if the United States and 11 nations in the region could create new joint programs to fight crime. In remarks given at the headquarters of the Hungarian National Police, Freeh acknowledged the progress that Hungary had made in the previous four years in adapting to democratic structures. But he also warned of the growing problem of organized crime emanating from Russia and the Newly Independent States and cited the costs of the American experience in allowing organized crime to become entrenched. He pledged U.S. support and called for a coordinated law enforcement response, consistent with the fundamental democratic principles of justice.


Six-Point Assistance Plan

The six-point assistance plan announced today by the Hungarian and United States Governments provides for:
I. U.S.-Hungarian Law Enforcement Liaison

The U.S. Government will seek diplomatic accreditation for representatives from key U.S. law enforcement agencies to serve as liaison with Hungarian counterparts.


II. Formation of a Hungarian-American Law Enforcement Working Group

In recognition of the dual threat of international organized crime and terrorism to the people of Hungary and the United States, a working group will be created to develop formal avenues to improve relations between the two countries by building on investigative successes, solving problems that diminish the timely exchange of investigative information and improving the successful resolution of joint international crime and terrorism investigations.

The Hungarian-American Working Group will be modeled on the Italian American Working Group (IAWG), one of the most successful international bilateral working groups in addressing common crime and terrorism issues. The IAWG mounted a coordinated and sustained attack against organized crime. The success of the IAWG framework resulted from developing cop-to-cop partnerships and focusing upon a common and agreed upon strategy.

As the IAWG has grown from its beginnings, through the "Pizza Connection" cases and the bombing assassinations of Italian crime fighters Judges Falcone and Borsellino, to the present benchmark of international law enforcement cooperation, the Hungarian-American Working Group will become the principal mechanism for the exchange of criminal information and expertise between the Hungarian National Police and the FBI in areas relating to international organized crime and terrorism. The Hungarian-American Working Group will likely convene annually, alternating between Washington, DC and Budapest, Hungary, to advance mutual objectives toward the common goal of identifying, attacking and dismantling international organized crime and terrorist groups that threaten the lives and liberty of our citizens.


III. Legislative Assistance with Development of Anti-Crime Laws

In the coming months, U.S. legislative specialists will work closely with the American Embassy and the Government of Hungary in the development and implementation of anti-crime legislation targeted at international organized crime.

Currently, the Government of Hungary is considering a comprehensive legislative package that would give investigators and prosecutors the tools to deal effectively with complex and emerging organized criminal activity. Based on anti-crime provisions that have proved successful in the U.S. and elsewhere, the proposal includes tougher sentencing, seizure of financial assets, witness protection, undercover authority, stronger drug and money laundering laws, and racketeering and continuing criminal enterprise statutes.

The assistance consists of investigators and prosecutors with experience in organized crime, and will share with Hungarian authorities both the successes and the pitfalls of the long battle with organized crime in the United States.
IV. Enhanced Training for Hungarian Law Enforcement

Special emphasis will be placed on training which will directly improve the ability of Hungarian law enforcement to investigate and prosecute major organized crime cases. There will be a training program at ILEA, Budapest, designed to improve investigative skills and management of major cases and development of prosecutive packages to be presented in court.

V. Laboratory and Forensic Training and Assistance

The FBI Laboratory will work closely with Hungarian law enforcement to assess forensic needs and to determine how laboratory assistance can support investigative priorities. Unsolved bombings and other investigative matters that rely on forensic evidence will be reviewed. Training in forensic science will be conducted to strengthen the capabilities of Hungarian laboratory investigators and examiners in pending and future cases. A scientific fellowship exchange will allow Hungarian forensic experts to come to the United States to observe and work side-by-side with their counterparts in the FBI Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
Because of Hungary's experience with bombings, a major focus will be in the explosives area, where the FBI Laboratory conducts forensic examinations in bombing matters and presents expert witness testimony in court concerning forensic findings. The Laboratory provides direct field support in bombing matters and crime scene investigations, as well as searches of bomb factories and safe houses where explosives may be. It maintains liaison with domestic and foreign manufacturers of explosives as well as military and governmental agencies engaging in explosives-related matters. The Laboratory also conducts training in bombing crime scene investigations and laboratory forensic examinations related to bombing matters.

The FBI Laboratory maintains the largest single computer library in the world dedicated to commercially-produced explosives identification and comparative examination purposes. One laboratory program gives instant access to resources including a unique device that compares unique elements of cases, which has proved to be extremely helpful in serial bombing cases.

VI. Technological Support

Pending approval by the State Department, the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division will provide access to identification and other information service programs that have a practical, crime-solving application. This initiative is driven by two goals: to promote common international standards and inter-operability of law enforcement data systems; and, to promote sharing of law enforcement data through state-of-the-art technology.

The two programs which will be offered are: the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) International Project and the Interim Distributed Identification System (IDIS). The first will allow for queries to the FBI's NCIC Stolen Vehicle and Boat files via the INTERPOL telecommunications network. Hungary has been identified as a vehicle theft "hot spot" and a conduit for stolen vehicles by the FBI and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The project includes a multilingual international browser menu screen and enables NCIC access to users at remote terminal locations in Hungary to assist with investigation of stolen vehicles.

IDIS provides an interim fingerprint card scanning and store-and-forward capability that allows a simple, low-cost solution to the challenge of converting 10-print fingerprint cards to a digital format. This system electronically transmits fingerprints between countries as well as international organizations. Hungary, like other Interpol member countries, will be encouraged to procure IDIS-like equipment to coherently transmit fingerprint images from country to country through the Internet.

The development of mutually shared databases and the development of electronic links between the FBI and Hungarian law enforcement will require a series of discussions to determine the relative inter-operability of existing systems and protocols, future technology obligations, and the status of Department of State treaty initiatives.


International Law Enforcement Academy

In April 1995, the International Law Enforcement Academy opened in Budapest, modeled after the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia. The FBI-led, State Department-funded ILEA has been a resounding success, where 750 police officers from 20 countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia have completed the eight-week program. The success of the academy is testament to a sense of cooperation between the FBI and the Department of State, and among the many federal agencies that contribute as instructors, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, United States Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Internal Revenue Service, Diplomatic Security Service and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Additionally, the New York City Police Department, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the University of Virginia have participated.

Training at the Academy can also be customized to meet the needs of participating countries. Last year, 19 specialized courses were conducted by six different U.S. Government agencies.

Another 2,700 police officers have participated in shorter, specialized training courses at ILEA. The students have used techniques learned at ILEA to combat their own crime problems -- and to assist U.S. investigators with domestic U.S. cases. For example, Polish officers who attended ILEA dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory where drugs were destined for the United States; Ukraine and Hungary have established a close working relationship on their borders as a result of their students attending the Academy, and together have apprehended organized crime members who have ties to the United States; and, ILEA graduates from the Baltic countries have sought FBI assistance on organized crime matters that directly affect U.S. national security.

ILEA is a critical part of the overall U.S. international training program which is funded by Congress under the auspices of the Department of State's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, the Freedom Support Act, the Support for Eastern European Democracies, and the Antiterrorism Training Assistance programs. These programs have resulted in U.S. law enforcement building bridges of cooperation and understanding with their foreign counterparts at the investigator level. Such bridges and relationships are among the most positive steps the U.S. Government can take to keep foreign crime problems from reaching the shores of America.


Recent Developments

In July 1998, a team of FBI Laboratory personnel traveled to Budapest, at the request of the Hungarian government, to assist the Hungarian National Police and the Budapest Police Department in the investigation of a deadly, noontime car bombing that killed four and injured 19. The bombing is believed to be connected to organized crime.

Last month, Director Freeh traveled to Hungary to meet with government and law enforcement leaders, assess U.S.-Hungarian law enforcement relationships, and explore ways to further strengthen bilateral anti- crime efforts. At ILEA, he joined Ambassador Tufo and Dr. Pinter in announcing a State Department-funded agreement that will provide law enforcement training and technical assistance to Hungarian law enforcement, including funding for a group of Hungarian officers to travel to the FBI Academy for an anti-corruption, internal controls course.

Freeh also met with a class comprised of Estonian, Polish and Russian police officers who were midway through a course in investigating organized crime. Freeh emphasized -- through simultaneous translation, as the classes are routinely taught -- the significance of officers from three critically-important Eastern European countries, sitting side-by-side, building the cop-to-cop relationships that are so necessary in any successful fight against international organized crime.