The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with the GCC Secretary-General, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and interior ministers posing for a group picture in Manama yesterday.
DOHA: The GCC countries described their interior ministers meeting in Bahrain’s capital Manama yesterday as immensely significant in light of Iran’s deal with world powers and resolved to strengthen their regional security pact.
The meeting discussed achievements of the GCC states in their endeavour to have strong regional security system and decided to build on them to tackle risks and challenges arising from Tehran’s deal.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani attended the meeting — 32nd of the GCC interior ministers, Qatar News Agency said in a dispatch from Bahrain.
Bahrain’s Interior Minister, Lieutenant-General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, who chaired the meeting, said they expected world powers which inked the deal with Iran to explain to GCC leaders and people that the agreement serves to achieve regional security and stability and that it had not been reached at the expense of any GCC member state.
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister, Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, stressed the need for stronger security-related cooperation among the GCC states in view of new developments in the region. He said the meeting will take decisions and make recommendations to strengthen regional security cooperation.
The meeting also underlined the significance of fighting terrorism and said security agencies of GCC states needed to develop strategic planning to fight terror.
Addressing the opening session, the GCC Secretary-General, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, praised GCC rulers and leaders for their attention and constant support for security cooperation and constant coordination between the GCC ministries of interior.
On the sidelines of the meeting, winners of the Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz award for security research were announced and honoured.
They comprised the Department of Research and Studies at Qatar Interior Ministry’s Police Training Institute, head of Kuwaiti Research and Study Management Institute, researcher Colonel Mansoor Al Dihani, Bahrain University researcher, Maysoon Nedham Awadh, and security research centre at Bahraini Interior Ministry’s Royal Academy of Police.
The Peninsula/QNA
