Memorandum of understanding between the International Criminal Police Organization-Interpol and the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council

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The International Criminal Police Organization-Interpol (hereinafter referred to as Interpol) and the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council (hereinafter referred to as the AIMC General Secretariat):

Considering, firstly, the provisions of the Constitution of the International Criminal Police Organization, which provides that Interpol's aims are to ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities within the limits of the laws existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to establish and develop all institutions likely to contribute effectively to the prevention and suppression of ordinary law crimes,

Considering, secondly, that the AIMC General Secretariat is responsible for implementing the aims and directives of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council, which are to develop and strengthen co-operation and to co-ordinate efforts in the Arab countries in the areas of internal security and the fight against crime,

Emphasizing the role of the police authorities in maintaining law and order with due respect for human rights,

Wishing to co-ordinate their activities within the framework of the missions assigned to them, in order to avoid duplication of effort,

Wishing to promote co-operation and enhance the competence of both organizations for the execution of their respective mandates through mutual consultation and co-ordination, exchange of information and technical co-operation, for the purpose of combating crime and the pursuit of criminals,

Have agreed on the following:

Mutual consultation and co-ordination

1. Interpol and the AIMC General Secretariat shall consult regularly, through their representatives, on crime policy issues and other matters of common interest for the purpose of realizing their objectives and co-ordinating their respective activities.
   
   
2. Interpol and the AIMC General Secretariat shall exchange information on developments in any of their fields and projects that are of mutual interest and shall reciprocally take observations concerning such activities into consideration with a view to promoting effective co-ordination and to avoiding duplication of effort.
   
   
3. When appropriate, consultation shall be arranged at the required level between representatives of Interpol and of the AIMC General Secretariat to agree upon the most effective way in which to organize particular activities and to optimize the use of their resources and available funds in compliance with their respective mandates.
   
   
4. The two parties shall co-ordinate their efforts to preserve the Arabic language as an Interpol working language and to promote its use.
   

Exchange of information

1. Interpol and the AIMC General Secretariat shall combine their efforts to achieve the best use of all available information relevant to crime control and the administration of criminal justice.
   
   
2. Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for the safeguarding of confidential information, Interpol and the AIMC General Secretariat shall ensure full and prompt exchange of non-nominal information and documents on matters of common interest.
   
   
3. When communicating information, each organization shall ensure that such information is accurate and valid, and that it is entitled to communicate the information to the other organization, in accordance with its internal regulations.
   
   
4. Communication of police information by Interpol to the AIMC General Secretariat shall be subject to Interpol's internal regulations which provide that Interpol may not communicate such information without the formal consent of the National Central Bureau (NCB) from which that police information originated.
   
   
5. Communication of police information by the AIMC General Secretariat to Interpol shall be made either through the NCBs or directly by the AIMC General Secretariat, depending on the importance of such information.
   
   
6. The two Parties shall co-ordinate their activities in this field through NCBs of Interpol member countries which are members of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council to encourage crime analysis and other specific actions which shall be subject to special arrangements.
   

Reciprocal representation

1. Where appropriate, arrangements shall be made for reciprocal representation at Interpol and AIMC General Secretariat meetings convened under their respective auspices and dealing with matters in which the other party has an interest or technical competence.
   
   
2. The Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council and the Secretary General of Interpol shall each designate a person to act as a focal point with a view to ensuring implementation of the provisions of the present Memorandum of understanding.
   

Technical co-operation

1. The AIMC General Secretariat shall, at Interpol's request, review projects to be implemented by Interpol in order to provide comments and suggestions which take account of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council directives and are appropriate to the Arab region.
   
   
2. Interpol and the AIMC General Secretariat shall, in the interest of their respective activities, seek each other's expertise to optimize the effects of such activities.
   
   
3. The competent bodies of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council and Interpol shall delegate their respective Secretaries General to adopt such special arrangements as may be necessary to implement joint projects on matters of common interest. These special arrangements shall set out the procedures for the participation of each Organization in such projects and shall determine the costs payable by each of them.
   

Entry into force, modification and duration

1. The present Memorandum of understanding shall enter into force on the date on which it is signed by the Secretary General of Interpol and the Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council, subject to the approval of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council and the Interpol General Assembly.
   
   
2. The present Memorandum of understanding may be modified by mutual consent expressed in writing. It may also be revoked by either party by giving six months' prior notice to the other party.
   
   
3. Signing this Memorandum of understanding shall not, in itself, imply any financial commitment on the part of either party.
   
   

In witness whereof, the Secretary General of the International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol and the Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council sign the present Memorandum of understanding in duplicate, in Arabic and English, both texts being authentic, on the dates appearing under their respective signatures.