Turkey and Maldives have agreed to conduct joint police operations in battling crime and terrorism according to an agreement that went into effect in February 2019.
The text of the agreement, obtained by Nordic Monitor, shows that the two countries entered into a security cooperation agreement that was signed into law on February 7, 2019 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The deal provides cooperation in police training, joint operations, intelligence sharing and undercover operations. It bars the transfer of information and documents to third parties even after the expiration of the agreement.
The 13-article agreement envisages a number of cooperation schemes in security matters and joint action in combatting crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling of alcoholic beverages, money laundering, drug trafficking and terrorism.
Authorities in both Turkey and Maldives will share intelligence, engage in operational cooperation and prevent the activities of media organs of terrorist organizations and front institutions from operating in their territories. Both countries committed to taking measures regarding the persons and institutions providing financial or other support including sheltering, accommodation, training and treatment and logistical support to terrorist organizations in their territories.
The agreement allows Turkey and Maldives to appoint liaison officers to their diplomatic missions to increase the efficiency of interaction and coordination of joint actions within the framework of the agreement.
The Interior Ministry in Turkey and Home Affairs Ministry in Maldives will be responsible for the execution of the security agreement, which is valid for five years with automatic renewal unless prior notification for cancellation is made in writing six months before its expiry date. The agreement was signed on August 14, 2013 in Ankara by Abdulla Riyaz, commissioner of the Maldives Police Service, and Mehmet Kılıçlar, director general of the Turkish National Police.
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