Excellencies, Distinguished Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure and honor on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Fiji to address this high level gathering.

At the outset I wish to thank the INTERPOL and the Government of Monaco for the invitation and for the initiative in organizing this 83rd Session of the INTERPOL General Assembly in this beautiful city of Monaco.

I would also like to commend the choice of key agenda items which are relevant and reflect global security challenges confronting us today as a region. This year’s General Assembly theme of ‘100 Years of International Police Cooperation’ reminds us of the pivotal role played by countries sharing insights into the emerging criminal threats of tomorrow and the need for increased police cooperation in order to protect the lives of citizens in our various regions and beyond.

Fiji’s participation in this high level meet is based on the common interest to deepen security cooperation between Fiji and countries represented here today. I wish to highlight today initiatives taken by Fiji to address emerging criminal threats and its connection to other transnational organized crime from the perspective of a maritime island nation.

National Initiatives

Fiji being considered the hub of the Pacific remains susceptible to the commonly lucrative and multifaceted crimes such as illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, money laundering, cyber activities, identity theft, illegal fishing and terrorism given the porous nature of our borders and the limited resources we have. Over the years, non-state actors have exploited the legal gaps, systems etc and these challenges are considered a catalyst to the committal of these crimes.

The prosecution of recent transnational crime cases in Fiji unraveled the existence of networks and well established syndicates within our region and its link to the international illicit market. Fiji due to its geographical location in the Pacific region remains as a potential transit point for drug smuggling and other forms of transnational crime.

The Fijian Government has demonstrated significant efforts to establishing national framework that would address effectively the challenges of trans-border crimes despite these challenges. The establishment of specialized units to investigate cases of illicit drug trade, human trafficking and cyber related crimes demonstrates the effort of my government to acknowledging its obligation under the international protocols and other pertinent instruments.

Regional Initiatives

Since 2010, operations across the South Pacific have resulted in the seizure of over 1.8 tonnes of cocaine believed to have been bound for international lucrative markets with transit points through Fiji and other neighboring Pacific Island States. The threat of possible spill offs from this drug consignment transiting our borders remain high, thus the need for regional collaboration and increased cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies in our region.

Noting this growing threat, key law enforcement agencies in our region have established networking arrangements including the convening of a South Pacific Commanders Conference in November 2013, to highlight the issues and trends currently emerging in our region in addition to Fiji’s initiative through the Melanesian Spearhead Group for harmonization of standards related to security, monitoring and surveillance across the Melanesian Spearhead Group region. This has seen the convening of regional working groups tasked with addressing holistically and comprehensively the problems associated with our interconnectivity and interdependence built through trade and transportation specific to each functional area.

This arrangement is testament of the need for cross border cooperation in all facets of policing noting the very mobile society we now have for crime respects no borders irrespective of personal and political differences.

International Collaboration

Fiji recognises the importance of building strategic partnerships and connections for a safer world at all fronts from the international, regional and at the local front.

Like other developing countries, Fiji fully recognizes and realizes the importance of engaging aggressively in the fight against organized crime. Although Fiji is faced with capacity constraints, it continues to make progress in developing its partnership with other member countries encouraging integrated approach to addressing global policing challenges.

With our global partnership through Interpol office and existing bilateral with other traditional partners, I’m certain that we would be able to address and mitigate the ensuing issues of cross border crimes.
We should embark on capacity building, technology orientation and most importantly sharing of crucial relevant information.

Way Forward: Memorandum of Agreements with Foreign Law Enforcement Agencies

Entering into formal agreements with other law enforcement agencies is the way forward for international cooperation as we collectively synergize our resources to address the threat of transnational crime being the major challenge in global policing for the 21st Century as a factor of strengthening global and regional security.

Memorandum of Agreements will allow room for increased cooperation and the exchange of information relevant to the investigation or prosecution of a money laundering offence, terrorist financing offence or any other serious offence.

For example, Fiji has entered into a total of 21 Agreements with foreign counterparts to date on money laundering alone. This arrangement allows Fiji to cooperate with other international partners on this specific challenge.

Fiji through the assistance of INTERPOL is in the final process of establishing in Fiji the new INTERPOL passport control system at Fiji’s main port of entry under its I-24/7 system.

Fiji in the meantime is pursuing technological development in the areas of cyber crime and the use of DNA to enhance investigation. These will require international support to build our technical capacities and capabilities.

The Fijian Government will continue to take steps to further strengthen our obligations and requirements under the relevant international instruments and standards on initiatives to collectively address transnational crimes and all its forms.

Fighting transnational crime, demands a greater and increased international cooperation from all parties concerned. The threats of transnational crimes including money laundering, human trafficking, trafficking illicit drugs etc have totally changed global policing. There is greater demand now for networking and sharing of intelligence noting the global issues that have now shaped present policing demands and to a greater extent have also affected our way of living.

I look forward to more interactive discussions and cooperation with other countries and I wish for a successful conference.

I thank you.

83RD SESSION OF THE INTERPOL GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
MONACO, 03-07 NOVEMBER 2014