Tunis, March 01 (QNA) – The Arab Interior Ministers Council held Wednesday its 40th session at its General Secretariat headquarters in Tunis with the participation of the State of Qatar, and in the presence of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Interior Ministers of the Arab countries, high-security delegations, in addition to representatives of the Arab League, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), the Arab Maghreb Union, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Europol, the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, and the Arab Police Sports Federation.

In his opening speech to the 40th session, Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council Dr. Mohammad bin Ali Kuman praised the unparalleled success achieved by the State of Qatar in organizing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, extending his congratulations to the wise leadership, the government and the Qatari people for this success.

Dr. Mohammad bin Ali Kuman said that for the first time, the World Cup events are held in an Arab country, saying that Arabs have the right to be proud of the distinguished organization and atmosphere of the tournament, making it – as observers pointed out- the best World Cup edition. He added that the World Cup was an opportunity to spread the values of the Arab-Islamic civilization, introduce the Arab heritage, and the decisive contributions to human civilization, wishing the State of Qatar further success, progress, and prosperity.

Dr. Kuman said that the Arab Interior Ministers Council has reached its peak after 40 years of tireless work in strengthening Arab cooperation in the field of internal security and combating crime, stressing that one of the reasons for this success is the council’s keenness to evaluate its work mechanisms to keep pace with security developments and addressing emerging challenges and emerging criminal threats, which is reflected in several items on the agenda of this session.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit affirmed that joint Arab action in the security fields remains an indispensable necessity to mobilize a concerted collective confrontation of security phenomena, especially cross borders issues, stressing the importance of exchanging opinions regarding emerging developments in Arab societies that have many commonalities. He pointed out that this session is taking place in very delicate circumstances, especially in light of the continued suffering of the Arab region from serious civil conflicts, some of which are being torn apart, with all that entails from cross-border and transnational repercussions, as is the case with refugee flows or some dangerous security phenomena such as the spread of terrorist groups and drug trafficking.

He also stressed the urgent need for an integrated security vision that takes into account the social conditions that arose from global developments, underlining the importance of uprooting extremist thought by dismantling its ideological structure.

He explained that the Arab societies, after nearly ten years since the emergence of ISIS, have become more aware of the danger of this ideology, and more alienated from its extremist approach, considering that the security solution alone is not sufficient to overcome and control the security problems in the Arab region, but rather the matter requires reaching radical solutions and political settlements to the problems that generate these negative security phenomena.

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif Al Saud, the honorary president of the Council, stressed that the promotion of the implementation of the desired Arab cooperation model requires support for integration and coordination efforts, and the exchange of experiences and expertise to develop means and mechanisms that depend on a comprehensive analytical study of data and information related to all types of crimes to prevent and combat them according to a comprehensive system of strategies, plans and decisions related to the areas of security in its comprehensive concept. He highlighted that the Arab world is witnessing rapid developments that resulted in multiple security and social threats, the most prominent of which is the danger of the spread of the drug scourge that is decimating societies, targeting youth and destroying all foundations of development and prosperity, expressing his confidence in the ability to overcome all challenges facing the security and stability of the Arab countries. This can be implemented based on the values of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, which have contributed, since the establishment of this entity, to achieving successive achievements that prompt aspiration towards a future based on the highest levels of protection from crimes in order to live in an Arab homeland that enjoys security and stability, he said. He noted that the Council achieved, during its last session, a number of achievements in a number of integrated tracks that translated proposals and common ideas into practical reality, including the establishment of an Arab work group on the immediate exchange of information on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which would represent a new tool to enhance pan-Arab cooperation in the face of this serious scourge. He also highlighted the development in the Arab-international cooperation to combat terrorism by aligning the Arab strategy with the UN strategy to combat the phenomenon, according to an ambitious implementation plan, in addition to holding joint conferences and meetings with regional and international organizations. Tunisian Minister of Interior Tawfiq Charafeddine highlighted, in his speech, the security challenges facing the Arab region, which necessitates that everyone redouble efforts, unify visions, and further strengthen cooperation between various agencies, bodies and organizations, whether Arab, regional or international, in the framework of a comprehensive, multidimensional approach, in light of a moving and changing regional and international situation. The 40th session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers is a renewed occasion for exchanging visions, discussing and crystallizing positions towards the issues at hand, in a way that serves the interest of Arab peoples, and guarantees their security and stability, especially the security threats and challenges posed by, for example, but not limited to, the increasing influx of illegal immigrants to Europe across a number of Arab countries, Charafeddine said. The session discussed a number of important topics on its agenda, especially the report of the Secretary-General of the Council on the work of the General Secretariat between the 39th and 40th sessions of the Council, the report of the President of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) on the work of the university over the period between the previous session and the current one, the recommendations issued by conferences and meetings held within the framework of the General Secretariat in 2022, and the results of joint meetings with Arab and international bodies in the same year. The 40th session also discussed a vision to activate the work of the Council in the field of cyber security, combating electronic crimes, and in the field of respect for human rights in security work, and amending the Council’s regulations in line with developments in its field of work. The Council will also consider approving the executive plan for the Arab strategy to combat terrorism that has been developed in line with the UN strategy to combat terrorism, in addition to a number of other important issues. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency