Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, inaugurated the 40th session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers on 1 March. The meeting was conducted under the patronage of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Kais Saied, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers.
According to Gamal Roshdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Mr. Aboul Gheit delivered a keynote address at the outset of the session, emphasising the significance of the regular convening of this meeting and the crucial role played by the Council.
This is especially pertinent given the current regional and global context, wherein the Arab region grapples with severe conflicts, civil unrest, and the fragmentation of some nations. The far-reaching consequences and transnational implications of these conflicts are manifold, including the influx of refugees, the proliferation of terrorist groups, drug trafficking, and the rise of criminal organisations, he noted.
Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored the pivotal role that interior ministries play in tackling these issues. He also stressed that a security-focused approach alone cannot suffice to address these challenges. Instead, a concerted effort must be made to reach comprehensive and lasting political settlements to the root causes that give rise to these adverse security phenomena, he pointed out.
The spokesperson relayed that in his speech, the Secretary-General highlighted the pressing requirement for an all-encompassing security perspective that accounts for the social circumstances stemming from the global events unfolding around the world. Mr. Aboul Gheit further affirmed that unified Arab action in the realm of security remains an essential imperative to mobilise a concerted collective response to security-related issues, particularly those that transcend borders.
He also underscored the need for exchanging viewpoints and insights concerning the emerging trends and developments in Arab societies. These societies share numerous commonalities, particularly in social and cultural aspects, he said.
In addition, the Secretary-General emphasised the significance of eradicating Islamic State and takfiri ideology from Arab territories and culture, as the most efficacious approach to combat terrorism is by dismantling its ideological infrastructure. Mr. Aboul Gheit noted that, after almost a decade since the emergence of the Islamic State, Arab societies have become increasingly cognizant of the peril posed by the Islamic State ideology and are increasingly averse to the takfiri mindset. Uncovering and revealing this ideology is crucial in this regard.
