The thirteenth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime concluded today in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The conference, hosted by the United Nations headquarters from October 19 to 23, included the participation of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Syrian participation contributed to the adoption and voting on several resolutions, including one presented by the Arab Republic of Egypt with the support and sponsorship of Syria. The resolution aims to enhance international cooperation in combating the illegal trafficking of cultural property and protecting it from exploitation and smuggling.
Enhancing International Cooperation
The head of the Syrian delegation, Brigadier General Abdul Rahim Jabbara, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Interior, stated in an interview with SANA that Syria's participation in the conference contributed to strengthening the national presence at international forums concerned with combating organized crime, enhancing international communication and coordination, following up on files related to the review of the implementation of the Convention, as well as developing legal and technical cooperation with relevant countries and specialized UN bodies.
Jabbara clarified that the resolution concerning cultural property comes within the framework of enhancing international efforts to protect cultural heritage from illegal trafficking and confronting the exploitation of organized criminal networks for cultural property, thereby supporting cooperation among states in preserving and protecting heritage.
Coordinating Meetings
He pointed out that the Syrian delegation held a series of coordinating meetings and sessions on the sidelines of the conference, the most prominent of which was a meeting with the Russian side to discuss Syria's comments on the self-assessment questionnaire submitted by Russia, and to examine the subsequent steps for reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
He added that the delegation held a trilateral meeting with the Russian and Indonesian delegations to coordinate work related to the review of Indonesia's implementation of the Convention, and to follow up on the necessary steps to complete the review process, thereby enhancing coordination among relevant countries and contributing to achieving its outcomes.
Review Mechanisms
In a related context, the Syrian delegation held a technical meeting with the official in charge of the "Sherlock" (SHERLOC) portal of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to discuss mechanisms for entering and updating national legislative and judicial data, and the requirements for enhancing Syria's participation in the portal, thereby supporting the exchange of legal information related to combating organized crime and criminal justice.
Brigadier General Jabbara stressed that Syria seeks to be an active and proactive partner in international efforts aimed at enhancing the rule of law and combating organized crime, through participation in joint initiatives, developing international coordination, and working to translate international commitments and decisions into practical steps that contribute to confronting crime in all its forms.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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