The observer status granted to the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Western and Central Asia (ARIN-WCA) will enable it to expand its participation in international professional dialogue and develop practical relations with anti-corruption and law enforcement authorities of foreign countries. The Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan serves as the permanent secretariat of ARIN-WCA.
The granting of the new status to the Network was announced at the seventh plenary meeting of the GlobE Network, held on 25–28 August at the headquarters of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna. The meeting was attended by U. U. Nigmadjanov, Deputy Head of the Academy, on behalf of the ARIN-WCA Permanent Secretariat.
The discussions focused primarily on practical mechanisms for cross-border cooperation. In particular, issues related to rapid and secure information exchange, cooperation between competent authorities in investigating corruption-related crimes of an international nature, as well as the tracing and recovery of criminal assets were considered. Prospects for expanding the GlobE Network’s partnership with regional professional networks were also discussed separately.
The new status creates additional opportunities for ARIN-WCA to participate in the activities of the GlobE Network, promote the common priorities of the countries of the region, and develop cooperation with competent authorities of other jurisdictions. For the Academy, which serves as the Permanent Secretariat, this expands opportunities to promote joint initiatives, engage international expertise, and strengthen the practical capacity of the Network.
For information: The GlobE Network brings together 253 competent authorities from 137 countries, including anti-corruption, law enforcement and other authorities. The Network contributes to establishing direct professional contacts, securely exchanging information, and developing practical cooperation in investigating transnational corruption-related crimes.