Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman today assumed the presidency of the Arab Interior Ministers Council at its 39th session, in the presence of Tunisian President Kais Saied, Arab Interior Ministers and representatives of the Arab League and the GCC.

Oman called for further cooperation to address global challenges and enhance stability and development in Arab countries.

In its speech, delivered at the 39th session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council by Sayyid Hamoud Faisal Al Busaidi, Interior Minister, the Sultanate of Oman said, “This session is being convened in the backdrop of many challenges, some of which are related to communications and information revolution, the coronavirus and its repercussions on various aspects of life and associated developments that impinged the security of societies and crime styles. This requires further cooperation and coordination, as well as the exchange of expertise, in developing legal instruments and procedures to address the challenges in a manner that guarantees the precedence of security and contribute to stability and development and promote development into higher spheres in our Arab countries.”

Al Busaidi pointed out that the council studied reports on accomplishments made during the period from the 38th and the 39th session. The council also looked into scientific accomplishments and training undertaken by Naif Arab University for Security Sciences. He called for rallying efforts to reflect the significance of topics taken up by the 39th session in the field of joint Arab security cooperation. If translated into tangible reality, these actions will bolster the ability of Arab security institutions in projecting all that is new in the field crime control and realizing the security and safety of states, he added.

The meeting discussed a number of topics on the agenda, including a draft project for a tenth phase strategy for combating illicit use of narcotics and psychotropic substances, a draft project for the sixth plan for the Arab strategy on civil protection (civil defense) and a draft project for the ninth plan for the Arab strategy countering terrorism.

The meeting also discussed recommendations issued by conferences and meetings of the Secretariat General in 2021, the outcome of joint meetings among Arab and international bodies in the same year and scopes for the establishment of an Arab office for cybersecurity and combating cybercrime, as well as the launch of the website for human rights agencies.

The website of bodies concerned with human rights in Arab ministries of interior was launched.

The delegation accompanying Sayyid Hamoud included Maj.Gen Abdullah Ali Al Harthy, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations, and officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Oman Police (ROP).