An international security alliance was announced today in the capital Abu Dhabi in the presence of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and the interior ministers and representatives of six Arab and world countries.
The newly-created Alliance will act as a working group to confront organized and transnational crime. It comprises Italy, Spain, Senegal, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Morocco, as well as UAE and France, the founders of the alliance. Abu Dhabi will be the headquarters of the Alliance's general secretariat.
The Alliance encourages joint work to confront organized and transnational crime of different types, develop means of prevention, and ensure sustainability of security and stability for these countries in their endeavors to promoting security and growth to their people. The Alliance also increases opportunities of cooperation among these countries in police and security areas while also leveraging experience and information sharing to contribute to the international peace and security.
Unlike other international alliances, this Alliance acts as a forum for sharing expertise and for publishing the best practices and training principals on police and security issues. Thanks to its legal nature, the Alliance can work flexibility to face the current police challenges.
HH Sheikh Saif conveyed to the attendees the best wishes of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
"The United Arab Emirates is working with untiring determination to confronting all types of crimes, locally, regionally and internationally, on a solid belief of its visionary leadership that security is a global shared responsibility", said Sheikh Saif in his address.
"The new emerging security challenges required more international cooperation and full preparedness for all the challenges, taking police and security work from reactive to proactive approach, in order to fight forces of evil and crime", he added,
He pointed out that crime primarily targets innocent people, and disrupts the security of nations and communities to hinder their progress, growth and prosperity.
"Today we witness the birth of a joint understating on creating international security alliance bringing together sisterly and friendly countries with similar challenges. This is a reflection of our sincere intention and determination to fight these risks that threaten the international security and peace", he affirmed.
"We are moving forward, Allah willing, to always be in a stronger position and overtake the forces of evil and crime no matter how stronger they are. We will work together to attain the noble goals of our alliance, and to achieve the national objectives of each member in this alliance, until it becomes an international security force that attracts all those who are looking for more security and stability", Sheikh Saif stressed.
The declaration was attended by the Bahraini interior minister Lt. General Staff Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa; Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo Minister of the Interior and Public Security of Senegal; Prefect Filippo Dispenza, Central Director of for General Affairs of State Police in Italy representing the Italian interior minister; Eugenio Salarich, Spanish Ambassador to the UAE representing the interior ministry in the Kingdom of Spain, and Noureddine Boutayeb, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Interior, Morocco.
Attended also were Brigadier Hamad Ajlan Al Ameemi, director general of Federal Criminal Police, ministry of interior, Brigadier Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, director general of Strategy and Performance Development, ministry of interior and a number of officials from Bahrain, Senegal, France, and Italy.
The UAE ministry of interior hosted a coordinated meeting earlier this year to discuss preparations for bringing this Alliance into existence.
The General Secretariat of the Alliance, based in Abu Dhabi, will submit a proposal that includes the operational model of the Alliance, procedures of joining, organizational structure, and work mechanism of sub working teams. Member countries will hold periodical meetings in the host country or in any other member state by agreement on that, to discuss programs and exchange information, expertise and training.
In the first discussion panel themed" criminal exploitation via social media", security experts from the working group presented their countries' experience in the fight against crimes committed via social media. The participants suggested and discussed solutions for this problem.
On the other hand, of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior invited a number of the nationals of the Alliance member states and honored them for the services they offered to their communities, or for their courageous actions for rescuing the lives of other people who were involved in accidents.
The ministry of interior selected the honorees after extensive search and communication with the UAE police attach s at the embassies of these countries. Entry visas and residence have been arranged for the selected honorees.
Sheikh Saif surprised the representatives of the six countries of the alliance when he announced his intention to honor those individuals as part of the event. The move was well received by these countries.
Among those honored was UAE national Mohammed Al Zarouni who rescued 5 people at the risk of drowning near Dubai after water ran into their boat. Khalid Abdurrahman, from Bahrain was also honored for saving the lives of 2 people after their boat had an accident. Samir El Harracha, a Moroccan man, was awarded for saving a child when he smashed down the door of a house and ran into the building while on fire before the arrival of civil defense teams.
Honoring also included French national Arnaud Vail for his courage saving a lady before their car was struck by an oncoming train. Also a Senegalese Moussa Faya was honored for fearlessly running into a scene of a car accident and rescued a lady her car engulfed by flames.
The Italian Alesandor Gallo was also awarded for saving a person at the risk of drowning when he had to carry him safely to the shore.
Swinging on a harness dangling form a crane, Spanish Ismaeel Mesquita was also honored for fearlessly rescuing an entire family from their burning 4 story building. Driven by his humane qualities, he had to also carry the family's dog which weighs more than 50 kg, exposing himself to an imminent danger.