Wednesday 19 / February / 2025
Tunis: The Council of Arab Interior Ministers has awarded His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik the "Prince Naif Arab Security Medal of Excellent Class", the loftiest Arab security medal.
The medal was conferred on His Majesty the Sultan in appreciation of HM's constructive role in consolidating bonds of fraternity and cooperation among Arab countries and backing peace and stability in the region.
The medal was received by Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior, when he headed the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation at the 42nd meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers, held in Tunisia today.
Al Busaidi said in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that this high-status medal embodies great recognition for the efforts of His Majesty the Sultan in rallying stands to address security challenges, with full wisdom and proactiveness. He noted that the gesture expresses deep acclaim for His Majesty the Sultan’s endeavours to support the national, regional and international security systems.
He added that, “This honour enhances the Sultanate of Oman's pioneering position within the Arab security action,” adding that the Sultanate of Oman will continue to back every effort that enhances security integration among Arab brethren and achieves the Arab people’s aspirations to live in peace and dignity".
The ministerial meeting was opened with a speech by the representative of the President of the Tunisian Republic, Khaled Al Nouri, Tunisian Minister of Interior, who welcomed the Arab Ministers of Interior.
Al Nouri underlined his country's keenness to support all initiatives aimed to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and Arab action in all fields, notably in the security field.
Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Kuman, Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, said in a speech that 2024 saw good progress in security action within the purview of the Arab Interior Ministers Council and its affiliate bodies.
He added that the Secretariat General of Arab Interior Ministers Council introduced necessary measures to enhance efforts towards the prevention of drug abuse, to spare our Arab societies the dire consequences of related action.
The ministerial meeting discussed other matters related to enhancing the intactness of joint Arab security cooperation and coordinating security policies among member states to confront current challenges like terrorism and organized crime.
The meeting also touched on means of exchanging expertise in the field of cybersecurity and enhancing security and stability in the region.
The meeting discussed the projects of the 11th phased plan of the Arab Strategy to Combat the Illicit Use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the 7th phased plan of the Arab Strategy for Civil Protection (Civil Defense) and the draft version of the second phased plan of the Arab Strategy to Confront Cybersecurity Crimes.
The meeting was attended by Margarida Blasco, Minister of Interior of the Portuguese Republic.
The meeting was attended by Arab Interior Ministers, representatives of the GCC, the Arab Maghreb Union, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Europol.
The Omani delegation accompanying the Minister of Interior included Maj.Gen Abdullah bin Ali Al Harthy, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations, Dr. Hilal bin Abdullah Al Sinani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Tunisia, and other officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Oman Police.
