On 20 May, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov addressed participants in the 4th INTERPOL Dialogue meeting in the videoconference format. The meeting focused on INTERPOL dialogue on an effective multilateral policing architecture against global threats.
Attendees included INTERPOL Secretary-General Jurgen Stock, Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council Dr Mohammad bin Ali Koman, Executive Director of the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) Tarek Sharif, Head of AMERIPOL's Federal Police Regional Intelligence Adriano Mendes Barbosa, Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat Jim Wee, Director General of the GCCPOL (Gulf Cooperation Council Police) Mubarak Said Al Hyeli, Deputy Executive Director of EUROPOL Jurgen Ebner, Deputy Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) Berndt Korner and SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Deputy Director Akhat Mukashev.
The SCO Secretary-General noted that the coronavirus infection, now confronting humankind, was causing increasingly greater challenges and threats for global and regional security. For example, he drew attention to the far more widespread IT scams, sales and purchases of counterfeit pharmaceutical and sanitary-hygienic goods, as well as risks linked with expanding large-scale unemployment and illegal immigration.
Vladimir Norov said terrorist groups might take advantage of current social tensions for recruiting new members. He noted that they might exploit the spreading pandemic and its negative global consequences for perpetrating terrorist attacks with the use of biological weapons.
The SCO Secretary-General voiced concern in connection with the more active operations of international terrorist organisations, primarily the Islamic State, in northern provinces of Afghanistan. He noted the importance of expanding the potential of the joint fight against this threat, with the SCO RATS's coordinating role, and continuing cooperation within the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group.
Vladimir Norov pointed to the possible transformation of the global narcotic drugs market. This may entail more diversified channels for supplying and producing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and the share of drug trafficking might increase on the Darknet. In this context, he noted the significance of the international anti-drug operation Spider Web, conducted by law enforcement agencies of SCO member states on 23-27 March 2020.
The SCO Secretary-General underscored the need for resolute and well-coordinated multilateral actions under the principles of all-inclusivity and solidarity, with the UN's central role, to effectively deal with the pandemic and other modern security challenges. He supported INTERPOL activities to consolidate the efforts of national law enforcement agencies.
Following the meeting, the participants passed a Joint Communique noting the importance of multilateral cooperation between law enforcement agencies in emergencies, with due consideration for the need to contain cross-border criminal threats caused by the pandemic. The document notes the need for continuing the practice of online working meetings in order to ensure regular international cooperation in this area.