UN and Interpol sign agreement to tackle organized crime in Kosovo

The U.N. will have access to Interpol's database and analysis, which will help it disrupt criminal gangs in Kosovo and other regions where the rule of law is weak, said Alain Le Roy, the U.N.'s undersecretary general for peacekeeping operations.

The U.N. has seen its mandate evolve away from keeping two armies apart _ such as in Cyprus _ to helping build political institutions in the aftermath of internal conflicts, a job largely done by U.N. police, as opposed to soldiers. In these weakened states, organized crime flourishes and hinders the world body's work.

"The role of U.N. police has increased drastically," Le Roy told reporters at Interpol's annual meeting, the first the U.N. has attended. "That's why we have to strengthen our cooperation with Interpol."

The U.N. will have 15,000 police operating in concert with 15 peacekeeping operations within three months, up from 6,000 a few years ago, Le Roy said.

"The major spoiler for us to implement our mandate is organized crime," said Ann-Marie Orler, an adviser to the U.N.'s peacekeeping operations. "We're working in environments that don't have a functional judicial system, rule of law or police. ... It's paradise for criminals."

Interpol began working with U.N. peacekeepers in 2007, Le Roy said.