Ethiopia’s federal police chief attending 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow
Addis Ababa, November 5, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopian delegation headed by Chief Commissioner of the country’s Federal Police, General Demelash Gebre-Michael, is participating in the 92nd General Assembly., which is being held from 4 to 7 November 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland.
With around 1,000 attendees from 179 countries, it is the largest global gathering of senior law enforcement officials, who collectively decide how INTERPOL operates.
It is stated that the police chiefs, senior officials of the member countries of the organization including Ethiopia and various international organizations working in partnership with the police are participating in the general assembly.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in his opening speech at the conference, praised the efforts of the member countries of the organization in working together to achieve world peace. He also stressed the need for international police cooperation to combat pervasive organized crime.
“This is the General Assembly of the world’s security experts. It’s your cooperation across borders that saves lives, time and again. It’s your collective efforts that bring organized criminals to justice, wherever they try to hide,” Starmer said.
Meanwhile, Com.-Gen. Demelash asked Interpol to give Ethiopia the opportunity to organize the organization’s general assembly.
In response to Com.-Gen. Demelash’s request, Interpol officials indicated that they would consider Ethiopia’s request to host the annual event it in the future.
It was pointed out that the Ethiopian delegation will hold bilateral discussions with delegates from various countries and international organizations on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body and comprises delegates appointed by the governments of its 196 member countries.
It meets once a year and takes all the major decisions affecting general policy, the resources needed for international cooperation, working methods, finances and programmes of activities. These decisions are in the form of resolutions.
This year, the General Assembly will elect the new Secretary General, after Valdecy Urquiza of Brazil was put forward as the chosen candidate of INTERPOL’s Executive Committee.
The Secretary General is INTERPOL’s chief full-time official and directs the 1,200 staff who work in the organization’s 15 duty stations around the world.
The General Assembly will also elect nine new members to INTERPOL’s 13-member Executive Committee, which oversees the implementation of General Assembly decisions.
In his opening remarks, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said: “From the rise of organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism to climate change and migration challenges, our ability to adapt and innovate is crucial. This year’s General Assembly presents an opportunity for member countries to engage in fruitful conversations, share intelligence, and enhance collaborative strategies.”
The Assembly will also consider a number of motions guiding the organization’s activities on terrorism, lawful access to digital evidence and child abuse, among other subjects.
In his statement to delegates, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said: “INTERPOL was created to serve police by allowing the exchange of information across borders. This mission still drives our work today. We have made INTERPOL’s systems more connected, our products better and our response more coordinated than ever before.”
The first day of the General Assembly saw the announcement of the INTERPOL Law Enforcement Academy, an educational centre hosting a range of professional development programmes and events.
Housed within INTERPOL’s Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, the Academy will notably offer an Executive Leadership Programme for senior police leaders from around the world. INTERPOL member countries will be invited to nominate candidates for the programme’s first cohort.