86th INTERPOL General Assembly Underway in Beijing

Opening of the 86th General Assembly on September 26, in Beijing | Source: www.interpol.int

Today marks the third day of the 86^th International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Generally Assembly in Beijing, China. The General Assembly, composed of delegates from 190 member countries, is the supreme governing body of the organization. The GA meets annually for a four- day conference, at which they adopt Resolutions regarding finances, resources for international cooperation, and general policy by a simple majority.

Here are some of the highlights from the 86^th General Assembly thus far:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered the opening remarks. President Xi underscored the need for cooperation. “China has actively participated in global law-enforcement cooperation and global security governance, resolutely supported international fight against terrorism, joined global cooperation in combating cyber crimes, worked with other countries in fugitive repatriation, fighting against telecom fraud and other crimes,” President Xi remarked.
• Meng Hongwai, the current president of INTERPOL, also delivered remarks. President Hongwai stressed that “INTERPOL in the new age should be an INTERPOL that faces the future.” For Hongwai, a forward-facing INTERPOL would “participate in the discussions” and “take a stance” on global security issues, as well as excel in “supplying technical services” and providing a “platform for cooperation among… countries, international organizations, private entities and civil society.” Read the full transcript of President Hongwai’s speech here.
• The GA voted to admit Palestine and the Solomon Islands as member countries. The decision to admit Palestine was met with ire by Israeli officials – Israel’s Deputy Minister for Diplomacy, Michael Oren, wrote on Twitter that “[b]y admitting ‘Palestine’, which praises terrorists of the past and refuses to condemn those of today, Interpol makes the world less safe.”

Look for more updates and analysis on the 86^th General Assembly in the next issue of the International Enforcement Law Reporter.