The annual plenary meeting of the Security Experts Network concluded today in Rome at the venue of the Scuola di Perfezionamento per le Forze di Polizia. For three days – from 9 to 11 December – the police forces’ centre of excellence hosted this annual meeting, which brought together staff employed at Italian diplomatic missions around the world.
The closing session was attended by Undersecretary of the Interior Nicola Molteni, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi, Chief of Police – Director General of Public Security Vittorio Pisani, National Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor Giovanni Melillo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Riccardo Guariglia, Deputy Chief of Police Raffaele Grassi and Secretary General of Interpol Valdecy Urquiza.
The meeting focused on the strategic role of security experts in monitoring global risk contexts, strengthening international cooperation and identifying in time ever-evolving criminal and terrorist threats, in order to defend and protect the country.
Undersecretary Molteni emphasized that the presence of experts in embassies is essential to the country’s ability to realize and identify in time threats, as well as to consolidate relations with international partners. Moreover, he highlighted how criminal and terrorist networks adopt constantly evolving operating methods, which can be countered only by knowing how to intercept risk signals and ensuring constant and timely access to information.
In this context, he emphasized the role of the police forces in gathering information useful to understand the strategies of organized crime and movements that may affect national security. In this regard, he highlighted the importance of the joint activity between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which allows for rapid information exchange and helps prevent the destabilizing effects of international crises.
Finally, the senior government official reiterated that the Italian system focuses on international cooperation, with the awareness that no country can be able to tackle on its own global challenges such as the exploitation of migration flows, cyberspace, terrorism and illicit trafficking.
