BEIRUT
, April 24 (Xinhua) -- French Justice Minister Rachida Dati and her Lebanese counterpart Ibrahim Najjar signed Friday a declaration of judicial cooperation between their two countries
, National News Agency (NNA) reported. The declaration was signed at the end of Dati's two-day official visit to Beirut. Dati said the agreement for judicial cooperation aims at "combating organized crime
, money laundering
, terrorism, and technical training for judicial police as well as training jail supervisors." A protocol agreement between the two sides will be signed before the end of 2009, and would include supporting jail systems and upgrade jail workers
, Dati said. "France will help train prison wardens especially that the interior ministry is turning over prison administration to the justice ministry
," Dati added. She stressed the need for the full implementation of a 2002 law
, under which judges can reduce prison verdict for juveniles
, and facilitate their reintegration into society once free. During her stay in Beirut, Dati had separate meetings with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday.
