The first GCC workforce meeting on supporting international legal cooperation against transnational organized crime in the GCC kicked off its activities on Saturday. The three-day meeting will be held at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi, and will be attended by delegations from the Arab GCC countries and experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna and Abu Dhabi.
The meeting comes within the framework of partnership between the UAE and the United Nations Office on Drugs and crime (UNODC), in collaboration and coordination with the GCC General Secretariat, to support and develop the GCC international cooperation system in criminal matters. This partnership also aims to launch consultations between experts in the GCC countries and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with respect to United Nations mechanisms on international cooperation to combat transnational organized crime.
In his opening speech, Brigadier Mohammad Ghadir Al Kutobi, Deputy Director General of the Federal Criminal Police, and Head of the UAE delegation, welcomed GCC heads of State and delegates to their second country, the Emirates. He also conveyed to them the greetings of the Police Leadership, wishing them success in their important meeting to strengthen international cooperation.
He said that the fight against crime in all its forms and manifestations, particularly transnational organized crime, with various possible means is high on the list of priorities and important goals pursued by the international community, in light of the current developments taking place in the world, as well as the evolution in crimes’ forms, patterns, and means of crimes, coupled with the modern technologies and huge potentials of organized criminal gangs. This requires enhancing international cooperation to address these challenges and to achieve security and stability.
“The UAE endeavors to promote international cooperation in various ways to combat organized crime. This comes in line with international cooperation efforts to combat organized crime at across GCC countries,” stressed Brigadier Al Kutobi.
Concluding, Brigadier Al Kutobi expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the GCC General Secretariat, and all those who participated in organizing this meeting. Furthermore, he expressed his hope to see the meeting achieve the coveted goals, and that the ensuing conclusions and recommendations will reflect the efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.
In his speech on the occasion, Dr. Hatem Ali, Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Abu Dhabi, welcomed the attendees and experts from the Vienna and Abu Dhabi headquarters. . “The region faces major challenges in tackling transnational crime, given the location of the GCC countries, and their proximity to the Nations of the world’ noted Dr Hatem.
He stressed that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) endeavors to implement the programs and activities supporting GCC countries’ efforts. It helps them develop their mechanisms, establish advanced institutions to deal with organized crime in all its forms and manifestations, build the capacity of institutions and officers engaged in combating human trafficking crimes, support security cooperation at the national level and promote regional cooperation to combat crime.
On the same note, Véronique Wright from the United Nations Office in Vienna expressed her thanks the Ministry of Interior’s officials on the hospitality and the good reception. She indicated that international cooperation is not limited to the UAE; regional