Arab interior ministers pledge joint efforts to fight crime
Sleiman stresses need for greater Arab solidarity
The Arab Interior Ministers” Council concluded its sessions in Beirut on Monday, with the adoption of three security plans aimed at promoting anti-crimes strategies, raising awareness on security issues and enhancing traffic safety. The 26th annual conference of the Arab Interior Ministers Council kicked off on Sunday at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel in Beirut and was attended by 18 interior ministers from across the region.
The conference was held under the patronage of President Michel Sleiman, who was represented by Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud.
A statement issued following the closing session said participants in the conference adopted three plans aimed at the implementation of several security strategies.
The statement added that the duration of each plan was three years and would be implemented by the Council”s secretariat general and the Prince Nayef Arab Academy for Security Sciences.
The three plans represent the sixth Arab security plan that aims to provide an "efficient response to crimes in their different types," according to the statement.
They are also aimed at promoting citizens” role in fighting crime by raising their awareness on the threats of crimes and the means to prevent them.
The statement added that the plan also involved a strategy for the Arab media to raise awareness on security issues and the adoption of special media mechanisms when dealing with such topics.
The Arab interior ministers also called for promoting traffic safety, by "modernizing the mechanisms adopted by Arab security bodies" in this field in order to decrease the number of traffic accidents.
The Council also adopted an Arab strategy in the field of tourist security. According to the statement, the strategy seeks to provide "all factors that promote the security of the tourism sector, and hence increase the tourism sector”s contribution to Arab states” GDP."
Before issuing the final recommendations, the Arab interior ministers paid a visit to President Michel Sleiman at the Baabda Palace The Council addressed a letter to Sleiman, in which the ministers thanked him for hosting the conference.
The ministers said that they were "very proud of the leading role" assumed by Sleiman in various fields.
"Your achievements serve Lebanon”s interests, promote Arab solidarity and support fair cases," the letter said. The letter described Lebanon as "the country of sacrifice and victory."
In a response letter to the Council, Sleiman welcomed the Arab ministers, saying: "holding the conference in Lebanon shows Arab countries” trust in our country."
He stressed the need to promote Arab solidarity, adding that the Arab Summit that would be held in Doha at the end of March would be an opportunity for Arab leaders to promote reconciliation.
Sleiman said Arab solidarity would represent a "source of strength, especially if it is based on a unified and comprehensive strategy to force Israel to abide by the Arab Peace Initiative launched in Beirut in 2002."
In a speech during a luncheon held in honor of Prince Nayef Bin Abdel-Aziz, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that Lebanon had entered a new phase in light of regional and international developments.
"We are entering a new phase that imposes new challenges and requires a comprehensive strategy," he said.
The prime minister added that the past decade saw new threats on the Arab national security, including terrorism and foreign interference.
"Security and military bodies were able to stand up to these threats and developed preventive plans in cooperation with national institutions in every Arab country," Siniora said.
During the luncheon at the Grand Serail the Saudi interior minister was awarded honorary doctorate in Political Science from the Lebanese University.
Prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz – the Council of Arab Interior Ministers” honorary president – thanked the Council”s secretariat general for "the efforts deployed to achieve the success of this conference and to promote national security in the Arab world."