ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, March 13th 2014 [ME NewsWire]
The Arab Interior Ministers Council wrapped up its 31st conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
The United Arab Emirates’ delegation headed by Lt. General H.H Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, took part in the conference, which kicked off on Wednesday March 12, 2014, under the patronage of HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
HM the King sent a message to the Arab Interior Ministers Council, read on his behalf by Morocco's Minister of Interior Mohammed Hasad, who chaired the conference’s sessions.
Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who is also the honorary president of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, and Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Koman, the Secretary General of the council, each delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
Attending the conference were also a number of Arab Interior Ministers, representatives from a number of Arab and international organizations, as well as high-level Arab security delegations.
A number of Arab interior ministers also addressed the meeting and tackled the existing security risks, particularly the issue of terrorism, stressing their keenness to forge ahead diligently to consolidate and develop cooperation in the various areas of security work, which would yield further results benefiting the entire Arab world.
The United Arab Emirates’ delegation included Major General Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior for Resources and Support Services; Advisor Rashid Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Federal Demographic Council; Brigadier Ali Abdullah Alwan Al Nuaimi , Commander-in-Chief of Ajman Police; Brigadier Rashid Sultan Al Khodr Al Zaabi, Head of Legal Affairs Department; and a number of senior officers and officials.
During the two-day meeting, participants discussed a number of issues and important topics; decisions were taken accordingly. They also issued a set of recommendations and ratified member states' reports on the progress in the implementation of the Arab strategy for countering terrorism and illegal use of drug as well as the Arab strategy for traffic and civil protection (Civil Defense). They also discussed the 13th annual follow-up report on the implementation of the Arab convention against terrorism, which approves the formation of a joint counter terrorism committee of experts from both Arab Ministries of Interior and Justice, to revise procedures and implementation models of the Arab Convention against terrorism.
The Arab Interior Ministers Council was briefed on the annual reports regarding the gradual implementation of plans, and approved recommendations issued by the assessment committee, responsible of evaluating what has been already achieved with respect to: the 7th Arab Security Plan; the 5th Arab Media Plan on security awareness and crime prevention; the 4th Arab Strategy for Traffic Safety; the 6th Arab Strategy against terrorism; the 7th Arab strategy to combat the illicit use of drugs; and the 3rd Arab Strategy for civil protection (Civil Defense ).
The Council approved the resolutions and recommendations taken during the meetings of the Arab security officials at the level of General Secretariat in 2013, in addition to the results of joint meetings with the Arab League. The Arab Interior Ministers also endorsed the reports on the activities of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) and General Secretariat in 2013. They expressed appreciation of the efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Supreme Council of the NAUSS, in support of this prominent Arab security science institution. The Council also approved a report of the Secretary-General on the work of Secretariat-General during 2013, and thanked the Secretary-General for his efforts to implement the Secretariat General’s programs and to follow-up of the decisions issued by the Council’s previous session.
The Council has approved the establishment of the (Arab Office for Intellectual Security) to be headquartered in Riyadh City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and thanked Saudi Arabia for its generous donation to its budget.
The Council stressed the importance of cooperation between Libya and neighboring countries in terms of border control, with a view to counter potential terrorist activities, illegal immigration and the illicit trafficking of weapons and drugs. The ministers called on member states to provide support to the law enforcement agencies in Libya, to enable security forces to perform their tasks in ensuring the security and protection of lives and property.
The Council urged the countries who have not yet endorsed the five Arab agreements which were passed by the joint Arab Interior and Justice Ministers Councils meeting in Cairo on December 21, 2010, to expedite measures to sign them. The five agreements are: the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention; the Arab Convention for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing; the Arab Convention on Combating Information Technology; the Arab Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; and the Arab Convention for the transfer of inmates at penal and correctional institutions.
The ministers welcomed a proposal submitted by Egypt to hold a joint meeting for Arab Interior and Justice Ministers to discuss activating pan-Arab security and legal cooperation agreements. They also agreed on the creation of joint committees with the Arab Justice Ministers’ Council.
The conferees decided to form an ad hoc ministerial committee to discuss the statute and executive regulations of late Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud prize.
The Council reiterated its adamant rejection of terrorism regardless of its motives or methods, as well as of the sectarian discourse which fuels terror and instigate sedition and hatred. It also condemned the terror acts that have taken place recently in several Arab states, stressing its intent to "continue fighting terrorism and to address its root causes and muster all efforts and potentials to eradicate all sorts of terrorism and denounced its financiers and instigators”. It also expressed full support to the decisions taken by Arab states to protect their security and stability.
The Council strongly condemned the terror attacks against security forces in Arab states, citing the recent attack in Bahrain, which claimed the lives of three police officers, including an Emirati officer, serving within the joint GCC security cooperation agreement. They also condemned the terror attacks against security forces in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and other member states, killing thousands of security men.
The Council reiterated its absolute rejection of all forms of support, financing and abetting terrorism, such as blackmail, threats and paying ransoms demanded by terrorists, urging all countries to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions in this regard.
It called for bolstering anti-terror cooperation among Arab countries through the deportation of wanted persons under signed agreements; as well as for tightening border security to curb the smuggling of arms and the movement of terrorists.
The Council stressed the need to respect human rights and boosting cooperation between security agencies, citizens and civil society organizations in combating terrorism and establishing a community approach and effective partnership in the field of combating all sorts of crime.
The Council appointed new directors at the Arab Bureau for Narcotics Affairs, the Arab Bureau for Civil Protection and Rescue, and the Arab Office for Intellectual Security.
In conclusion, the Arab Interior Ministers sent a cable to His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, expressing their heartfelt thanks and appreciation for his kind patronage of the conference. They also praised the kind message he addressed to the participants, which served as insight to the Council’s discussions, and constituted an integrated work program. The ministers also expressed appreciation and pride for the valuable role played by His Majesty to enhance Arab cooperation at various levels, and to serve the Arab and Islamic issues, particularly the contentious issue of Jerusalem. Finally, the ministers praised the progress and prosperity, as well as the security and stability witnessed by the kingdom, under His Majesty’s wise leadership.
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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.
Contacts
The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media
Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317
E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com
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