2024-07-15 02:25:58
The two-day conclave is attended by the Secretary General of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, the President of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the President of the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), and the police and security chiefs of some twenty Arab countries as well as six regional and international organizations.
The 47th Conference of Arab Police and Security Leaders is an opportunity to discuss various topics including the use of modern technologies in combating terrorism and organized crime. The recommendations from the conferences of security chiefs and committee meetings held within the framework of the General Secretariat during 2023 will also be discussed at this conference.
Speaking at the opening session, the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, stressed that the hosting by Morocco, in particular the city of Tangier, of this major security event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to consolidating security in the Arab region and ensuring stability throughout the Arab space, noting that the holding of this meeting comes at a time marked by the resurgence of several forms of cross-border crime in different countries of the world, and in a situation that remains open to many security challenges with the rise of the terrorist threat and its links with cross-border organized crime networks.
For Mr. Hammouchi, the greatest challenges facing the world today are those related to the expansion of the terrorist threat, due to the emergence of regional groupings of terrorist organizations, particularly in the countries of the Sahel and the Sahara and in the African depths of the Arab countries.
Also, the Arab region is also facing the increasing flows of irregular migrants within the framework of organized criminal networks, which often rely on the security infiltration of checkpoints at the national borders of states, in addition to the increase in risks related to the challenges posed by networks of trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances, in particular with the proliferation of many synthetic drugs which push many consumers to commit violent crimes, he added.
In this regard, Mr. Hammouchi noted that the security services have noted, during the post-covid phase, an increase in cybercrime indicators and the proliferation of cases of fraud and cyber-extortion, which constitutes a serious threat to national economies, the security of countries and the personal data of citizens, with the emergence of many complex crimes, stressing the need to constitute a common security front capable of confronting the terrorist threat and criminal networks, eradicating rear training bases, drying up sources of financing, and combating the safe havens of criminal networks.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of the topics discussed at this conference, which link the security aspect and the need to coordinate efforts and exchange experiences, in order to ensure an effective fight and a resolute response to all phenomena and the use of new technologies in terrorist operations, as well as the humanitarian dimension, through the inclusion of a coordination mechanism between Arab countries, which reflects the special interest given by security institutions to their human resources, since they constitute the spearhead of the success of a security policy and an effective means of promoting the social role of the police and enabling it to carry out, in an optimal manner, its security missions in the service of the nation and citizens.
And to affirm that Morocco attaches great importance to the success of this conclave, being aware of the importance of an Arab security front capable of facing the regional proliferation of security risks at the Arab level, and the imperative of coordination with global and regional security organizations participating in the conference, to strengthen global security.
The Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance also reiterated Morocco’s commitment to supporting Arab and international cooperation and strengthening mechanisms to combat terrorism and the various forms of organized crime, expressing the willingness of the Moroccan security services to share their experience with all Member States, in order to firmly confront criminal risks and threats.
At the beginning of the work of this conclave, Mr. Hammouchi presented to the participants a video that highlights Morocco and its security forces as well as the various aspects of development and modernization of the Kingdom under the Wise Leadership of HM King Mohammed VI. This video was broadcast during the presentation of the Moroccan candidacy to host the 93rd session of the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization Interpol, which will be held in Marrakech in 2025.
For his part, the Secretary General of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, Mr. Mohammed Ben Ali Koman, expressed his sincere thanks and deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his sustained efforts in the service of Arab issues and the strengthening of international peace and security and for the constant attention paid by the Sovereign to joint Arab action in matters of security.
Mr. Ben Ali Koman stressed that the choice of Morocco to host the 93rd session of the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) comes in recognition of the distinguished position occupied today by the Kingdom, a country equipped with all the necessary equipment and infrastructure to ensure the success of large-scale events. Similarly, he noted that the organization of this conference in Tangier will strengthen the position of the Arab world in international police cooperation.
He also noted that Morocco’s organization of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal, reflects confidence in its national authorities, which will certainly contribute to strengthening the radiant image of Arab countries.
Mr. Ben Ali Koman also welcomed the choice of the theme “the use of modern technologies in the fight against terrorism and organized crime”, which will be discussed at this conference, given the challenges that this use poses to the police services, stressing that this issue is not only linked to cybercrime, despite its seriousness and the difficulty of dealing with it, but also concerns the use of new technological means, such as drones used to commit terrorist acts and for drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime.
For his part, Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi praised Morocco’s sustained development as well as the efficiency and professionalism of its security institutions, which make the Kingdom a haven of security and peace and a reliable partner in efforts to build a safer and more stable world.
This conference was marked by the presentation of a report on the Moroccan experience in the fight against cybercrime, including the legal and regulatory framework and the mechanisms for combating this form of crime. The Qatari security delegation to this conference presented a report in which it highlighted Qatar’s experience in organizing and securing the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
On this occasion, Mr. Ben Ali Koman presented the recommendations of the 47th Conference of Arab Police and Security Leaders and revealed the list of countries that won the award for the best awareness-raising films, produced by security institutions and departments as part of their communication and humanitarian missions.
The Kingdom of Morocco, represented by the DGSN, won the award for the best awareness-raising film in the field of societal policing, after presenting an institutional video highlighting the sacrifices made by police elements during the assistance and relief operations carried out following the Al Haouz earthquake.
Organized by Morocco, represented by the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, this event brings together representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the African Union Police Cooperation Mechanism (Afripol), the European Union Law Enforcement Training Agency (Europol), the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) and the Arab Police Sports Union (USAP), among other organizations.
This conclave is attended by most Arab countries, including the Kingdom of Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, the Sultanate of Oman, Palestine, Qatar, the Comoros Islands, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania and Yemen.
2024-07-15 02:25:58