SYRIA: Middle East security officials and Interpol discuss counter-terrorism measures

Record ID: 279853

  • Title: SYRIA: Middle East security officials and Interpol discuss counter-terrorism measures
  • Date: 20th June 2008
  • Summary: (MER-1) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JUNE 18, 2008) (REUTERS) WIDE OF COUNTER-TERRORISM CONFERENCE HOSTED BY INTERPOL AND SYRIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS ON STAGE VARIOUS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ATTENDING CONFERENCE INTERPOL AND SYRIAN FLAGS SAUDI ARABIA REPRESENTATIVE SEATED AT CONFERENCE EMPTY CHAIRS RESERVED FOR TUNISIA AND TURKEY WHICH WERE NO
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA2M6KS4VTJYXTZYH4V3TFVS0GN
  • Story Text: Interpol Fusion Task Force to the Middle East and the Syrian interior ministry begin a two-days conference in the Syrian capital to discuss counter-terrorism measures with security representatives of the region's countries.
    Interpol's anti-terrorism Fusion Task Force (FTF) officers and security officials of Middle East countries met in the Syrian capital on Wednesday (June 18) to start an annual conference on counter terrorism measures.
    FTF was created by Interpol, the world's largest police organisation, in 2002. It aims to assist member countries in investigations into terrorism-related incidents and to form a high level of cooperation between the nations in fighting militant action.
    The force has six regional branches, in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South America, Africa and Europe and the Middle East.
    Some 40 police and terrorism experts attended the annual conference.
    The first meeting was held in 2006 in Jordan and last year it was held in Cairo.
    Representatives of various Middle East countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran attended the conference. Seats reserved for representatives from Iraq, Tunis and Turkey were left empty.
    Topics on the agenda included financing terrorism, terrorism recruitment and challenges to border security.
    The conference was hosted by the Syrian Interior MInistry.
    The Interpol's database holds a list of some 6,000 terrorism suspects.
    Interpol's Secretary General Ronald Nobel said last year at the Cairo conference that 14 of the region's countries have provided half of the suspects At the opening session in Damascus, Syrian Deputy Interior Minister said Syria has introduced new laws to better counter terrorism.

    "We have updated much of the national legislation relating to this issue, and we have taken many steps in this regard, and we have worked in coordination with others in the Arab world and have coordinated with Arab interior ministers," Saker Kheir Beik told the conference.
    He stressed the importance of international cooperation and coordination to enhance the ability of member countries to address the threats of terrorism and organised crime.

    "We all know that fighting terrorism cannot be successful without regional and international cooperation, and no country can boast that it is able to fight terrorism independently of other countries," Beik said.
    Interpol's Secretary General Ronald Nobel, who participated in the Damascus conference, explained the target of the organisations' mission.

    "Interpol works to help member countries identify suspected terrorists and it is only through judicial process in our countries that a suspected terrorist can become an actual convicted terrorist. Second, with regard to any kind of state-related activity, Interpol has no jurisdictions, has no involvement, has no comment on state activity. What we do is we fight criminal activity of individuals," Nobel said.
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