Iraq and Syria Sign Security Cooperation Memorandum
(AWP) - The Iraqi Minister of Interior Abdel-Amir al-Shammari and his Syrian counterpart Mohamed Khaled al-Rahmouni signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint security cooperation during a meeting in Baghdad on Sunday, according to the Iraqi interior ministry.
During a press conference after the meeting, Al-Shammari said, “Cooperation will take place in combating drug trafficking, control of international borders, extradition of wanted individuals and fighting organized crime and money laundering.”
The Syrian interior minister, Al-Rahmoun, said the two sides will “cooperate in the fields of counterterrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybersecurity, and in rehabilitation and training of law enforcement authorities to undertake all their tasks with precision.”
In statements to the Arab World Press (AWP), Maj. General Khaled al-Mehanna, Director of the Iraqi Interior Ministry’s Relations and Media Department, said that memorandums had been signed on several aspects, including securing the Iraq-Syria border, and combating organized crimes such as drugs and human trafficking.
Brig. General Miqdad Meri, a spokesman for Iraq’s interior ministry, similarly said, “The MoU focused on drug crimes on the border crossings, human trafficking, trans-border crimes, activation of international arrest warrants, cooperation on Interpol and exchange of intelligence and training expertise between the two countries.”