23 March 2009
BEIRUT: Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud on Sunday called on delegates attending a conference of Arab interior ministers in Beirut to set up an anti-organized crime bureau to counter drug trafficking, immigrant smuggling and e-crime. Baroud stressed in opening remarks at the 26th conference of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council held at the Phoenicia Hotel in downtown Beirut the need to "strengthen agreements at the level of anti-terrorism among Arab states."
He said that maintenance of security is associated with three basic principles: preserving state dignity, winning people's confidence in public institutions and the ability of security services to cope with crime.
Baroud stressed on the need for Arab cooperation in this regard "to fill in the gaps."
"We are in dire need of a joint Arab law enforcement office in order to combat many cross-border crimes, such as money laundering, and Lebanon is ready to host the headquarters," he said.
"Achieving economic and social security are essential too, because evil hands manipulate impoverished people," he said.
The 26th annual conference of the Arab Interior Ministers Council lasts for two days and is attended by 18 interior ministers from across the region.
Addressing Sunday's meeting, Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz said he hoped that the conference would enhance the atmosphere of Arab reconciliation.
"The most dangerous challenges that our countries face are attempts to shake their stability and security," he said.
Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council Mohammad bin Ali Kouman rejected the notion that religions or races cause "terrorism," saying Israel was practicing "terrorism against the Palestinians in front of the whole world."
Kouman said terrorism was the "crime of the century." He acknowledged that other types of crimes, including drug and weapons smuggling, human trafficking, violating copyright and selling human organs, "hindered the state's security and stability."
He called for efforts and full cooperation among Arab states in order to adopt a complete policy that involves security, cultural, social, economic and educational fields to preserve human dignity.
Also during Sunday's meeting, Baroud and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Sayf bin Zayed al-Nahyan signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and coordination on the security levels between Lebanon and the UAE.
Meanwhile, Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdel-Majid said on Saturday the issue of detainees in Lebanon and Syria would be followed up in detail by joint Lebanese-Syrian committees, which he said were carrying out an active role in revealing the detainees' fate.
Before heading to Beirut to participate in the conference, Abdel-Majid said Syria was keen to have "good" relations with the Lebanese Interior Ministry, as this would serve the interests of the "brother" states.
Baroud had welcomed his Syrian counterpart at the Masnaa border point on Monday. A Lebanese Army chopper carried the two interior ministers to Beirut.
In an interview with An-Nahar newspaper published on Sunday, Baroud said that Arab states are no longer occupied with their internal affairs but also look at cross-border threats that cause them to cooperate and coordinate their efforts.
"One important item on the conference's agenda is to implement the Arab counter terrorism agreement that was previously signed in 1998," Baroud said
Baroud added that the conference was "a good opportunity for Lebanon's capital to shine again as pivotal center of Arab discussion."
"The main objective of the conference is to express the fact that Beirut is open to all inter-Arab meetings. The capital constitutes a pivotal dialogue center for the Arabs," Baroud said.
He paid tribute to the Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef's "positive role" in being the conference's honorary president.
Copyright The Daily Star 2009.
