Brazilian police officer Valdesi Urquiza will be the next head of Interpol, the world police organization announced yesterday, cited by world agencies.
Urquiza was yesterday elected Secretary General by vote of the Interpol General Assembly at a meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, and will take up his post after the meeting ends tomorrow.
Urquiza is currently Interpol's vice president for the Americas and is the first head of a non-European or US organization based in Lyon, France.
The Secretary General of Interpol essentially directs the activities of the organization. Germany's Jürgen Stock, in office since 2014, is ineligible to run for a third term under the organization's rules.
Urquiza vowed to promote diversity within his organization, saying “a strong Interpol is an Interpol that includes everyone.” “When we respect and support different points of view, we gain a clearer and more comprehensive approach to global security,” he added in a statement quoted by the Associated Press.
Interpol has 196 member countries and last year the organization celebrated its centenary. It helps national police forces to communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in areas such as counter-terrorism, financial crimes, child pornography, cybercrime and organized crime.
/AG/