The 41st session of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council underscored on Monday the need to bolster joint security cooperation between their countries to consolidate stability and boost opportunities for development and prosperity and protect people from terrorism.
The session was chaired by Qatar and held in Tunisia.
Improved security will also help combat drug dealing and abuse and various other crimes, they added.
Saudi Minister of Interior and Honorary President of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz chaired the Kingdom’s delegation at the meeting.
The council granted the Naif Prize Medal for Arab Security (Excellent Grade) to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in recognition of his great services to the security of the Arab community. The honor was accepted by Prince Abdulaziz.
Addressing the meeting, the Saudi minister conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the ministers.
He said the Saudi leadership hopes the outcomes of the meeting will help bolster joint Arab security in the present and for the future.
Prince Abdulaziz noted that the meeting was being held amid “painful humanitarian circumstances,” citing the war in Gaza, which he said has caused suffering to thousands of women, children and the elderly.
Since its inception, the Arab Interior Ministers' Council has sought security of the Arab people, while pursuing stability and growth aspired for by people around the globe, he added.
Prince Abdulaziz praised the council’s efforts and constructive cooperation in coming up with strategies and executive plans that have helped boost joint Arab security that have successfully tackled challenges confronted by security agencies.
This has helped achieve the goals of the wise leaderships of Arab countries and consolidated security and stability, he stated.
Moreover, the minister warned of cybersecurity threats, the abuse of Artificial Intelligence and the development of innovative methods to promote drug abuse.
This had led to the rise in organized crimes and alliances with armed groups and terrorist organizations. Such challenges demand the development of national and Arab plans to confront them, he added, suggesting investing in improving infrastructure and backing development and education plans.
He also underlined the importance of Arab coordination to confront these threats.
He said Saudi Arabia has successfully implemented a comprehensive security campaign, at the orders of the leadership, to combat the drug trade.
Prince Naif held talks with Tunisian President Kais Saied, as well as several of his counterparts from across the Arab world on the sidelines of his visit to Tunis.
