LYON, France - INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble expressed disappointment on Wednesday that the final declaration of the Riyadh Counter-Terrorism International Conference failed to note explicitly the crucial role of the world's police in combating terrorist activity.

The Riyadh Declaration emphasised the increasing threat posed by terrorism and the importance of diplomacy, international co-operation and education in fighting it. However, the declaration was silent on the role of the world's police in combating terrorism while longer-term solutions were sought. Mr. Noble said the fact that the word 'police' could not be found anywhere in the document was cause for concern.

'When there is a need for co-operation in world diplomacy, the United Nations is mentioned,' Mr. Noble said. 'When there is a need for co-operation to solve a global health problem, the World Health Organization is mentioned, for financial problems we turn to the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank, and on trade issues we turn to the World Trade Organization.

'I find it extremely worrying that an important international conference on terrorism does not in its final declaration make explicit reference to the world's police and to INTERPOL, the only global police organisation, when outlining an anti-terrorism strategy. We must also remember that police are all too often themselves the targets of terrorist attacks.'

Mr. Noble addressed the Riyadh conference on 5 February, calling for decisive measures to support and enhance the ability of the world's police to fight terrorist acts, the planning of terrorist acts and the criminal activity that supports or fosters terrorism. In his remarks, the INTERPOL Secretary General also endorsed the call for international diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of terrorism, as well as respect for the rule of law and human rights.

'The conference in Saudi Arabia was extremely important,' Mr. Noble said, 'and I applaud the efforts by the organisers to bring people together to seek solutions.
'But any comprehensive solution to this problem must include police and a co-ordinated international police response.'

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance police co-operation with international organisations, INTERPOL recently appointed its first-ever Special Representative to the United Nations. Based at UN headquarters in New York, the INTERPOL Special Representative will assist both organisations to develop partnerships to combat terrorism and other international crime.