UN Police Carry Out ‘Lifesaving Work’ – Nurture Faith in Justice, Build Confidence

 

Peace Can Succeed, Says Secretary-General, in Message to Singapore Meetings

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the United Nations-International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) ministerial meeting and general assembly in Singapore, 11-15 October (taped on 30 September):

INTERPOL President Khoo [Boon Hui],

INTERPOL Secretary-General [Ronald K.] Noble,

Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Wong [Kan Seng],

Honourable Ministers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to send greetings to this important gathering, at which you are focusing on the vital role of international policing in building sustainable security.

More and more leaders appreciate how much police do to restore stability following war.  That is why demands on United Nations police keep growing.  We help individuals.  We uplift whole societies.

United Nations police nurture faith in justice.  They forge trust in uniformed men and women.  They generate confidence that peace can succeed.

This is lifesaving work.  But the challenges are enormous.  Economic collapse.  Pervasive fear.

The only way to succeed is to join forces.  INTERPOL is our natural partner.  I am pleased that the United Nations and INTERPOL will sign a new agreement at this meeting.  I also welcome our other initiatives for stability and peace.

The time has come to develop an action plan on international police peacekeeping.  The United Nations is already working on a Strategic Doctrinal Framework.  United Nations Member States and INTERPOL will be critical to this effort.

I encourage you to continue participating in this noble work to help victims and promote greater respect for the rule of law in the most troubled parts of our world.  And I appeal to you to contribute more men and women to our operations.

Thank you for your strong support.

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For information media • not an official record