Emir of Qatar discusses with Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz bilateral relations, regional developments

GCC interior ministers stress continuing security cooperation, renouncing violence, extremism, terrorism

Prince Naif: Our status stable; rumors malicious

Al-Attiyah says creating unified GCC currency is necessary during current phase

GCC states discuss in Qatar military cooperation, more coordination

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, received in Doha Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, currently on a visit to Qatar to lead his country's delegation to the 27th meeting of the interior ministers of the GCC scheduled for Doha.

During the meeting, Prince Naif conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as well as the greetings of the Vice-Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Emir of Qatar. In turn, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani sent his greetings to them.

They discussed a number of issues of mutual concern. Then the Emir of Qatar held a dinner party in honor of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz.

The audience and the dinner party were attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; Prince Nawaf bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; Prince Fahd bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and the accompanying delegation of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior left Riyadh for Qatar to head the delegation of the Interior Ministry to the 27th meeting of Interior Ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states held in Doha.

At Riyadh Air Base Airport, the Prince was seen off by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed bin Saad Al Saud, Advisor at the Interior Ministry's Agency for Regions Affairs and a number of princes and officials. Prince Naif was accompanied by a number of princes and an official delegation.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior arrived in Doha to head the delegation of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the 27th meeting of interior ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council states.

At Doha International Airport, Prince Naif was received by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar; Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of State for Internal Affairs and cabinet's minister; Saudi Ambassador to Qatar Ahmed bin Ali Al-Qahtani and a number of officials.

Prince Naif was accompanied by a number of princes and an official delegation of the Ministry of Interior.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, attended a luncheon held by the Qatari minister of Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani in honor of the GCC interior ministers who took part in the 27th meeting for the GCC interior ministers held in Doha.

Also attending were Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; Prince Nawaf bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; Prince Fahd bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; and the official accompanying delegation of the minister of interior of Saudi Arabia as well as the other GCC countries delegates.

Interior Ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) member states started their 27th meeting in the Qatari capital - Doha.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister is heading the Saudi Delegation to the meeting who announced the royal approval of the Kingdom's accession to the GCC Information Center of Criminology for Drug Control.

The following is the text of his speech:

"It is my pleasure to have this renewed meeting in the State of Qatar during the 27th session. I would like to take this appropriate opportunity in my name and on your behalf to send sincere thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar; the Heir Apparent, the government and people of Qatar for the dignified care, hospitality and reception.. Our thanks go to my brother, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of State for Internal Affairs for his attention and eagerness to provide all he can to contribute to the success of this meeting and achieving its goals.

Prince Naif said "Brothers ... The world today, which we are part of and where we are influencing or influenced, has been witnessing many changes and repercussions led by the global financial crises that generate a fertile environment for rumors and havocs with implications more than it can bear... We are all aware that rumors' disseminators always seek to provoke anxiety and feelings of people on their earnings, savings and transactions whether with a specific goal or just mere frivolous aim.

There is no doubt, awareness and understanding of our citizens are reassuring that such rumors associated with those crises will not affect the confidence in their governments' capabilities and potentials -- thank Allah Almighty that all our countries are living under stable economic, social and security conditions which require all of us to thank Allah for such blessings, and work to maintain these conditions' continuity and prosperity and ignore such rumors.

Brothers... We look forward to further communication and coordination between security agencies concerned in our countries in all fields so that they can leverage what comes out of our meeting's decisions.

Elimination of obstacles that obstruct the march of the joint action, exchange of new information, investment on the availability of experts, follow-up of updated fields of sciences, knowledge and technical developments are required by security services to benefit from them in completion of security tasks, enhancing the levels of efficiency and rehabilitating its employees, dealing with the wrong use of those techniques by the heads of crimes and deviants, revealing their methods and their crimes and bringing these to justice for reforming and for preventing their crimes.

On this occasion I am happy to announce the Royal order approving the Kingdom's accession to the GCC information center of criminology for the drug control.

Brothers...

I ask Allah Almighty to bless your meeting and to help us all for the good of our nations and our peoples... And that this meeting will contribute to the achievement of the aspirations of our leaders toward achieving a secure and stable life for all citizens and residents in the Arab Gulf States."

Ministers of Interior of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries concluded their one-day 27th meeting in Doha. Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led his country's delegation to the meeting.

In a statement at the closing session, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah extended thanks to Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, the current president of the rotating presidency of the Supreme Council of the GCC, and to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent of Qatar, for warm welcome and generous hospitality.

Al-Atiyyah also thanked the Qatari Ministers of interior, led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of State for Interior Affairs and his senior aides for their distinctive efforts to arrange this meeting which contributed to the positive outcome of the conference.

He said the ministers reviewed the accelerating security changes and developments regionally and internationally and confirmed that continuous security coordination and cooperation among the member states and the vigilance of the security bodies are the guarantee, after the will of God Almighty, to keep the GCC countries safe and secure. In this regard, the ministers expressed satisfaction over the security achievements of their countries, the statement said.

Al-Atiyyah added that the ministers reiterated the firm positions of the GCC member states rejecting all forms and whatever the source of violence and terror-related extremism. He said that, at the same time, the ministers reiterated their support for any regional or international effort aiming at combating terrorism which turned to be an international phenomenon that threatens security, peace and stability.

The ministers assigned their undersecretaries to follow-up the latest security developments and changes taking place regionally and internationally, study them and report their recommendations to the GCC Interior Ministers Council.

They welcomed the establishment of the GCC Information Center of Criminology for Drug Control which will be based in Doha, Qatar.

The GCC interior ministers' next meeting will be held in Muscat, Oman.

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah described the just-concluded GCC interior ministers in Doha as among the important in the history of GCC security meetings, noting that the meeting benefited from the instructions of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

In a statement following the meeting, Al-Attiyah described the speech delivered by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as comprehensive and of special importance, citing the support it received by the ministers, including a proposal that Doha hosts the GCC Information Center of Criminology for Drug Control.

Al-Atiyyah also lauded Bahrain's proposal that the GCC Secretariat General thoroughly study the regional or international crisis which directly or indirectly affect the GCC member countries in terms of security.

Interior minister Lt. General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al Khalifa took part in the 27th GCC interior ministers meeting held in Qatar under the chairmanship of Qatari minister of state for interior affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani.

In a key note speech, Sheikh Rashid pointed out to the strategic economic and security importance of the gulf region. He urged to coordinate efforts to confront the repercussions of the crisis and all forms of threat.

Different stances combined with fast political, security, economic, social and religious changes increase collective security responsibility and push towards the adoption of preemptive initiatives based on a careful assessment of various influential factors to build up a comprehensive gulf security vision, Sheikh Rashid said. border security, smuggling, infiltration, illegitimate immigration, piracy and drug trafficking have become key priorities necessitating beefed up measures among the GCC member states to bring such issues under control, he added pointing out to Bahrain 2nd security forum and exhibition set to be held on February 24 and 25, 2009.

The ministers reasserted the GCC countries unwavering stances against violence, extremism and all forms of terrorism stressing support to any regional or international efforts to combat international terrorism which is threatening peace, security and stability.

The ministers also stressed the need for interior ministries undersecretary's consultative meeting to study, follow-up and analyze the latest regional and international security developments to come up with a GCC comprehensive security vision. The interior ministers also endorsed the setting up of a GCC criminal information center in Qatar to combat drug trafficking.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, received at his guest residence in Doha Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.

During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed a number of issues of mutual concern.

Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, arrived in Riyadh coming from Doha after having led the Kingdom's delegation to the 7th GCC defense ministers.

At Riyadh airbase, he was received by senior military commanders and officers.

Prince Abdulrahman was accompanied by Prince Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; Prince Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; Prince Abdullah bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; and General Saleh bin Ali Al-Mohayyah, Chief of General Staff.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar received in Doha Prince Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; other GCC defense ministers, and Secretary General of The Gulf Cooperation Council Abdurrahman Hamad Al-Atiyyah who are attending their 7th meeting of the GCC Joint Defense Council.

The GCC is made up of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

HE Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Bin Hareb Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs, and his accompanying delegation, which included Lt. Gen. Ahmed Bin Harith Al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), and a number of senior SAF officers, returned home on day from the sisterly State of Qatar after leading the Sultanate’s delegation to the 7th joint defense council meeting of the GCC defense ministers.

He and the delegation were received by Qatar’s ambassador to the Sultanate and a number of senior SAF officers. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, received at the Emiri Diwan the GCC Defense Ministers on the occasion of holding the 7th Joint Defense Council meeting. Sheikh Hamad wished the ministers success in their meeting and come out with recommendations that contribute in enhancing the GCC march.

Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Hareb Al Busaidi, minister responsible for defense affairs, received at Muaskar Bait Al Falaj Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier, chief of staff of the French Navy. The meeting reviewed good relations and discussed a number of issues of common interest between the defense ministries in the two friendly countries.

The meeting was attended by Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al Ra’esi, commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, the French ambassador to the Sultanate and the delegation accompanying the guest.

Rear Admiral Al Ra’esi also received separately Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier and the delegation accompanying him.

During the meeting, cordial conversations were exchanged and aspects of military cooperation, particularly joint naval exercises, reviewed.

The French guest was briefed on the RNO and its progress in the prosperous reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.

Major-General Said bin Nasser Al Salmi, commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), and Air Vice-Marshal Yahya bin Rasheed Al Juma, commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), also received the French guest separately.

The French official also visited the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) museum.