Roman Ukolov
Interpol will deal with modern challenges with the help of God
The 77th session of the International Criminal Police Organization's General Assembly opened in St Petersburg on October 7 - the first session of the assembly held in Russia. Officials from the interior ministries of 185 countries - members of Interpol, the UN, European Union, and other international organisations - took part in the session. Addressing the audience, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin praised Interpol's activity, emphasized the importance of Russia's role in the organization and spoke in favour of further integration. The General Assembly admitted the Vatican as Interpol's 187th member.
Speaking at the opening of the General Assembly, Vladimir Putin said that the document flow of the Interpol's Russian bureau has more than tripled over the past 15 years. "We see practical results from our cooperation," he said. "Over 350 people on the international wanted list were extradited to Russia in the past 10 years."
The head of Interpol's Russian National Central Bureau, Timur Lakhonin, added that Russia has been looking for 1200 people on Interpol's wanted list.
Addressing the cooperation strategy, Vladimir Putin said that the member countries should foster team spirit, represent a unified position and avoid double standards. Only then would criminals get unavoidable punishment. He said that Russia intended to further develop its cooperation with Interpol and support its international initiatives. "I am impressed by the depoliticization of your organization, and of course, we will support Interpol's activities in every possible way." He emphasized cooperation in introducing modern information technologies, creating database and training personnel.
Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said that his organization was going to propose a new global security strategy for the 21st century to world leaders. "Modern challenges demand our close attention," Noble said.
The World Policy Conference on October 8 in the French city of Evian will discuss global security issues.
President Dmitry Medvedev also promised to raise the issue of global security. In his opinion, the current global security system is ineffective. "The former security system has demonstrated its inadequacy," Medvedev stated. "Existing agreements do not correspond to the current situation in the world. Events in Iraq, Kosovo, the Caucasus, Afghanistan and many other conflict regions serve as confirmation of this."
The General Assembly unanimously admitted the Vatican as Interpol's 187th member. A representative of the Holy See said that his state, which has a population of 460 people, was joining Interpol because it shared its views on dealing with modern global challenges.
It is not a secret that the Vatican has had to deal on many occasions with the illegal activities of its own officials, international swindlers and cultural artifact hunters. Until now, the Vatican's security service could search and prosecute such people only with the help of the Italian police. Now the Vatican will get the assistance from Interpol in exchange for the support of the influential Catholic Church.