Call for cooperation to address global security threats as Interpol meet ends

The 84th Interpol Annual General Assembly held in Kigali ended yesterday with officials agreeing on the need for cooperation to address global security threats. The four-day assembly drew close to 1,000 delegates from about 150 countries. Speaking at the closure, Rwanda’s Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, emphasised the importance of international cooperation, networking and information sharing, capacity building in dealing with transnational crimes. Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, Internal Security minister speaks at the INTERPOL meeting in Kigali. During the conference, delegates were updated on Interpol’s integrated border security policing capabilities to combat terrorism and transnational crime “Such sessions are useful to come up with new ideas and strategies on how to deal with emerging security challenges. Even then, we all know well enough that the ideas can only be useful if they are translated into actions. We must therefore leave this meeting with a resolve to put into action what we have learnt and agreed,” said Minister Harerimana. Interpol President Mireille Ballestrazzi hailed Rwanda for the well organised meeting. “This general assembly could not have been successful without the professionalism of Rwanda National Police…We have been enabled to progress in fighting organised crimes, cyber crimes, sex exploitation among children and border management. What you did here will make Interpol’s work easier,” she said. “We all want to progress but one cannot progress alone and this is why I want to thank everyone for their cooperation.” (L-R): Panelists: Jürgen Stock, the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mireille Ballestrazzi INTERPOL President, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, Internal Security minister and Emmanuel Gasana, Inspector General of Police. Rwanda’s Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, handed over the Interpol Flag to Indonesia which will host the next meet. While opening the Interpol General Assembly on Monday this week, President Paul Kagame thanked Interpol for its efforts in tracking down fugitives wanted in connection with the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and helping to deliver justice for victims and survivors. However, he pointed out that many more of the fugitives are still at large. We will have to continue working with Interpol, and the international community, to ensure justice is done, President Kagame told the Assembly. Participants follow proceedings at the INTERPOL meeting in Kigali yesterday. (T.Kisambira) In a separate interview, the Interpol Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, pointed out that although they have a specific fugitive tracking programme, sometimes it takes long because criminals sometimes benefit from globalisation. “Sometimes it takes long but we will never give up; we constantly help member countries in trying to locate these criminals,” said Stock. The Assembly was held under the theme “Interpol 2020: Policing global threats in a dynamic environment.” It brought together delegates including police chiefs and senior law enforcement officials from 190 countries. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Call for cooperation to address global security threats as Interpol meet ends