MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS LEADS AUSTRALIAN DELEGATON TO SINGAPORE
Joint Media Release
9 October 2009
The Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Brendan O’Connor, and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mr Tony Negus, will tomorrow travel to Singapore to attend the INTERPOL General Assembly. The Assembly will incorporate a Ministerial meeting to discuss United Nations Peace Keeping Cooperation.
The theme of the INTERPOL General Assembly is ‘The role of international policing in building sustainable security’.
The Minister for Home Affairs is leading the Australian delegation and will deliver an address to the INTERPOL Meeting on Monday 12 October on ‘Protocols for the deployment of police internationally’.
During their visit, Mr O’Connor and the Commissioner will hold a meeting with INTERPOL Secretary-General, Mr Ronald Noble, and INTERPOL President, and Commissioner of Singapore Police, Mr Khoo Boon Hui.
A key focus of the General Assembly will be broad national security challenges. Some of these challenges include border security cooperation and continued support to intelligence exchange and regional capacity building initiatives to increase the effectiveness of international law enforcement agencies.
“Face-to-face meetings such as these are valuable opportunities to promote cooperation on vital security matters,” said O’Connor. “They are also key to building the trust and sharedunderstanding so important to effective regional relations.”
Mr O’Connor will also hold meetings with key senior Singaporean ministers to discuss Australia and Singapore’s ongoing close cooperation on areas of mutual interest, including continuing law enforcement cooperation and anti-money laundering strategies.
During his Singapore visit Minister O’Connor will also meet with key government figures from other countries including the United States, Timor-Leste, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These meetings with Ministers and with the US deputy Attorney General will include discussions on law and order in general and people smuggling in particular.
It is hoped that, as a result of the INTERPOL meeting, that Samoa is successful in its application to become INTERPOL’s 188th member country.
If successful, Samoa’s membership is expected to enhance law enforcement cooperation in the Pacific region by the placement of INTERPOL connectivity and tools within the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre which is located in Samoa.
The Australian Government remains committed to continuing the working relationships established in police development and the general security sector within the region.
Media Contact:
Brian Humphreys (Minister O’Connor) 0438 595 567 or
AFP National Media 02 6275 7100
