Mr. Giani explains (in Italian) how joining INTERPOL will enhance public safety at the State of Vatican City. Secretary General Noble stresses how INTERPOL membership strengthens security and anti-crime efforts.

The State of Vatican City police delegation at a briefing on stolen works of art.

With the State of Vatican City’s application to become INTERPOL’s 187th member country due to be put to vote at the organization’s General Assembly meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia (7-10 October 2008), closer collaboration with INTERPOL and developing law enforcement capacity were the focus of a visit today by the head of the State of Vatican City’s gendarmerie, Mr Domenico Giani, to INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France.

Discussions between Mr Giani (pictured right) and INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble included the increased use of INTERPOL's law enforcement resources such as its databases and secure communication systems to address public safety, counter-terrorism and criminality.

Mr Giani said that close co-operation with INTERPOL marked a big step forward for security at the State of Vatican City because of its access to the global police organization’s network of 186 member countries’ law enforcement services and National Central Bureaus. Mr Giani has previously underlined the importance of two newly created anti-terrorism units at the State of Vatican City in working closely with international police experts at INTERPOL and around the world to prevent possible attacks.