Notícias
PARIS 2024
Lewandowski and French ambassador discuss Brazilian federal police support for Paris Olympics
French Ambassador to Brazil Emmanuel Lenain, Minister of Justice Ricardo Lewandowski, PF Director General Andrei Rodrigues and the Head of the MJSP Special Advisory Office for International Affairs Paulo Gustavo Iansen de Sant’ana - Credit: Jamile Ferraris/MJSP
The Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública - MJSP) will provide security support for the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11 this year, by deploying Federal Police (Polícia Federal do Brasil - PF) agents. Minister Ricardo Lewandowski and the French Ambassador to Brazil Emmanuel Lenain formalized this partnership at the MJSP on Tuesday (28). Also in attendance were PF Director General Andrei Rodrigues and the Head of the MJSP Special Advisory Office for International Affairs, Paulo Gustavo Iansen de Sant’ana.
The cooperation between the MJSP, the PF and France also involves deploying Brazilian federal agents in the Paris Paralympic Games, which will take place from August 28 to September 8. The agreement stipulates that 14 officers will be assigned to active-duty roles, while another four will be tasked with intelligence and direct cooperation activities for the games. Brazil has formalized its participation in this agreement, which has been forwarded to the French counterpart for formalization in a few days.
"Within the MJSP, we are fully prepared to sign the bilateral cooperation agreements, which include PF support for the Paris Olympic Games," emphasized Minister Lewandowski.
PF Director General Andrei Rodrigues also highlighted the significance of this initiative. "It represents another substantial international cooperation endeavor, enabling us to contribute to the security of the Paris Games. Our officers will be deployed for intelligence gathering, police cooperation, safeguarding our athletes and providing support for law enforcement in Paris throughout both the Olympic and Paralympic Games," stated Rodrigues.
OTHER TOPICS - During their meeting, Minister Lewandowski and Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain also examined issues in the bilateral agenda concerning justice and public security, following French President Emmanuel Macron's visit last March. During the visit, numerous bilateral agreements were signed that depend on ongoing diplomatic follow-up to ensure their implementation.
The parties also discussed key bilateral issues brought up by the French ambassador: fighting organized crime, drug trafficking and illegal mining at the border with French Guiana – a territory under French jurisdiction, and also migration and extradition procedures.
The two officials also explored the potential for an agreement to combat illegal mining, a significant issue affecting both sides of the border. Furthermore, they discussed advancing negotiations for an agreement on the extradition of convicted individuals, an issue that traditionally comes under the purview of the Ministry, presently under discussion with French officials.
Another highlight of the discussion was immigration, particularly the influx of migrants, notably at the Brazil-French Guiana border. This encompassed both Brazilians and other foreign nationals crossing into French territory.
"These are significant challenges that require cooperation," responded Minister Lewandowski to the French ambassador. "Combating organized crime demands international cooperation as it transcends borders. There is ample opportunity for collaboration. Immigration is a multifaceted issue. Our Constitution and immigration laws are accommodating, especially concerning foreigners seeking asylum, refuge or residency permits and particularly if they have family ties in Brazil.”
The minister indicated that the MJSP, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores – MRE), is preparing new immigration policy regulation in accordance with the Constitution and current immigration legislation. "We need to know if foreign nationals have suitable accommodations and employment opportunities, and we need to assess the capacity of our healthcare and education systems to accommodate them. Once we do that, which we are about to do, we may address challenges related to the immigration of foreigners to Brazil and the Brazilian emigration to other countries," stated the minister.
ILLEGAL MINING - Lewandowski and Lenain also discussed solutions for the illegal mining taking place at the border between Brazil and French Guiana. MJSP Special Advisor Sant’ana suggested that a bilateral agreement on this matter could potentially be finalized by the time of President Macron's visit to Brazil for the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro this November.
"Our aim is to finalize this agreement and have it ready for signature during the French president's visit. The agreement for the Olympics, on the other hand, is expected to be signed in the coming days. Our officers will accompany the Brazilian delegation and collaborate with the French police in various areas, including counter-terrorism and crowd control. We will draw from the expertise we gained from major events such as the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup," explained Sant'ana.
Negotiations for the prisoner transfer agreement are also under way. "While an agreement between the two countries will be more tailored to our specific terms, existing international mechanisms already facilitate the exchange of prisoners between nations," noted the MJSP Special Advisor.