February 4, 2005

PRINCE NAIF ISSUES HIS DIRECTIVES TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM. A BUSY AGENDA FOR THE FIRST COUNTER-TERRORISM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. THE KUWAIT PARLIAMENT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES A DRAFT LAW ON SEARCH FOR AND SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS. KUWAITI SECURITY FORCES KILL ALL TERRORISTS AND ARREST ALL OTHERS IN THE CLASHES THAT ERUPTED IN MUBARAK AL-KABEER AREA SOUTH OF KUWAIT CITY. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, has directed the Ministry of Interior to participate in the activities of the national solidarity campaign against terrorism. The participation will be through the media and lectures held to explain the negative impact of terrorism. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is hosting delegates from over 50 countries, including 15 from the Arab World, as well as representatives from several international organizations, for the first Counter-Terrorism International Conference. The event, being held in Riyadh February 5-8, aims to develop specific proposals for improving bilateral, regional and international cooperation on counter-terrorism. The conference will also focus on improving capabilities to combat terror financing, money laundering, and drug trafficking. Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz will give the inaugural address. A series of workshops will follow, focusing on four themes: terrorist ideology and its roots; the relationship between terrorism, money laundering, and arms and weapons trafficking; the experiences of certain countries in combating terrorism; and terrorist organizations and their composition. Attending countries include Egypt, Syria, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Iran, and the Russian Federation. Among the international organizations participating in the event will be the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the African Union. The attendees hope to reach practical conclusions and recommendations to support international efforts in fighting terrorism. A report will also be presented to be used as a foundation for improving future international cooperation. Throughout history, human societies have suffered from terrorism. In recent times, the severity of such suffering has increased to the extent that terrorism has become a global phenomenon, a major preoccupation and a cause of concern for all seekers of peace, security and stability. This calls for international efforts aimed at effectively containing and warding off terrorism in a serious, responsible, and just manner that will ensure its elimination, the preservation of innocent lives, and the safeguard of national sovereignty, stability, and international peace and security. Based on these facts, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is concerned with mobilizing international efforts to confront and uproot terrorism, prevent its growth, and stop its funding sources. This Conference aims at augmenting the persistent endeavors to confront terrorism through mustering wide range efforts that involve affected countries. It is also geared toward exchanging views and expertise, and reaching appropriate recommendations and suggestions to combat this scourge. The objectives of the conference are: To highlight the concepts and causes of terrorism and the historical, ideological and cultural developments fuelling terrorism in human communities; To illustrate the relationships between terrorism and money laundering on one hand and between it and narcotics and arms trafficking on the other; To identify the structural aspects, composition and working patterns of terrorist organizations; To share the experiences of participating countries and international organizations in combating international terrorism and to exchange information and expertise; To reach practical conclusions and suggestions to support international efforts in fighting terrorism. The themes of the conference are to study the origins, sources, culture and ideology of terrorism. Relationship between terrorism, money laundering, arms and drugs trafficking. Lessons learned from experiences in combating terrorism. The Counter Terrorism International Conference opened on Thursday 23 Dhul Hijah (3 February 2005) with registration of delegates (Intercontinental Hotel Conference palace). On Friday 24 Dhul Hijah (4 February 2005) Afternoon: Registration of delegates (Intercontinental Hotel Conference palace) On Saturday 25 Dhul Hijah (5 February 2005) Morning: Opening Ceremony (King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center ) Recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an. Speech of the Crown Prince Official lunch on (King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center) Evening: 1st Plenary Session (Intercontinental Hotel) Statement by the Head of the Saudi Arabian delegation Announcement of Conference arrangements Statements by Secretaries General of international and regional organizations Debates by the heads of the German and Egyptian delegations (15 minutes per delegation) Evening: Workshop - First Session (Intercontinental Hotel) Workshop 1: Roots of terrorism Selection of workshop chairman Debates by the Egyptian, Japanese, German and Turkish delegations (15 minutes per delegation) Workshop 2: Relationship between terrorism, money laundering, arms and weapons trafficking Selection of workshop chairman Debates by the delegations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States of America and Singapore (15 minutes per delegation) Workshop 3: Countries' experiences in combating terrorism Selection of workshop chairman Debates by the delegations of the United Kingdom, Pakistan and Algeria (15 minutes per delegation) Workshop 4: Terrorist organizations and their compositions Selection of workshop chairman Debates by the delegations of France, India and China (15 minutes per delegations) Sunday 26 Dhul Hijjah (6 February 2005) Morning: 2nd Plenary Session (Intercontinental Hotel) Debate on ways of promoting international cooperation to combat terrorism Debates by the heads of delegation of the United States of America, Algeria and China (15 minutes per delegations) Morning: Workshop - Second Session (Intercontinental Hotel) Workshop 1: Terrorist ideology and its roots Workshop 2: Relationship between terrorism, money laundering, arms and weapons trafficking Workshop 3: Countries' experiences in combating terrorism Workshop 4: Terrorist organizations and their compositions Afternoon: Lunch Evening: 3rd Plenary Session Continuation of debates on ways of promoting international cooperation to combat terrorism Debates by the delegations of South Africa, Nigeria, France and Colombia (15 minutes per delegation) Evening: Workshop Third Session Workshop 1: Terrorist ideology and its roots Workshop 2: Relationship between terrorism, money laundering, arms and weapons trafficking Workshop 3: Countries' experiences in combating terrorism Workshop 4: Terrorist organizations and their compositions Evening: Daily press briefing Monday 27 Dhul Hijjah (7 February 2005) Morning: 4th Plenary Session Debates on workshop recommendations Morning: Workshop - Fourth and Final Session Debates on recommendations of the plenary session and final recommendations of all workshops Workshop 1: Terrorist ideology and its roots Workshop 2: Relationship between terrorism, money laundering, arms and weapons trafficking Workshop 3: Countries' experiences in combating terrorism Workshop 4: Terrorist organizations and their compositions Afternoon: Lunch Evening: 5th Plenary Session Continuation of debates on workshop recommendations Debate on draft communiqué Evening: Daily press briefing Tuesday 28 Dhul Hijjah (8 February 2005) Morning: Presentation and adoption of final communiqué Statements of appreciation on behalf of 3 geographical groups: (Europe and Americas), (Asia and Africa) and (Arab countries) Closing speech Afternoon: Press conference The Saudi government has stepped up security as Riyadh prepares to host next week a global anti-terror summit that is being dubbed as the first worldwide conference against terror organizations. The conference is expected to draw high-level representation from the G-7 industrialized countries like the United States, Britain, France, Russia and Germany. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to fly to Riyadh to join the leaders of 48 other countries. Prince Turki Ibn Muhammad, deputy political affairs undersecretary in the foreign ministry, said that Saudi Arabia would be telling the conference about the efforts it was taking to combat terror. He said the fight against terrorism would not succeed if the countries affected were to work together. "We all have suffered from terrorism and to face it, there should be a joint international effort," he said. He stressed that confronting terrorism should not be confined to dismantling militant groups by military force alone but also by going into its root causes. "We have to address the reasons that lead to the spread of this dangerous phenomenon," he said. The Foreign Ministry has completed preparations for the conference that will highlight Saudi Arabia's efforts to combat terrorism, Arab News said. A number of heads of state and presidents of international organizations are expected to take part in the conference. "We have invited all countries that have suffered from terrorism to the conference and all have agreed to take part," Prince Turki ibn Muhammad was quoted as saying. The participants include 14 Arab countries including Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, Jordan and Algeria, and 14 non-Arab Asian countries including Japan, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran and the Philippines. Leading international organizations participating in the event are the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Arab League, the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Makkah-based Muslim World League. Saudi Arabia is trying to gather a high-profile representation at a counter-terrorism conference it plans to host, the kingdom's interior minister said in remarks. "We hope the level of representation will be high," the Okaz daily quoted Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz as saying. "It might be higher" than the level of interior ministers, he said. Prince Naif said the kingdom aims to show that it is working "positively and effectively, in partnership with other countries, to combat terrorism and uproot it," Okaz added. The international conference, due to be held in Riyadh from February 5 to 8, is "one manifestation of the kingdom's persistent efforts to combat this global scourge," Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Abdullah had said in a message to more than 2.5 million Muslims performing the annual hajj pilgrimage. The Participants in the conference are: Saudi Arabia (Host country), Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkey, Japan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, the Russian Federation, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine, Denmark, the United States of America, Argentine, Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, Canada and Australia. The United Nations will be represented by 2 delegations. The Assistant of Secretary-General of the United Nations Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. Coordinator Analytical support and sanctions monitoring team of the 1267 committee on al-Qaida and Taliban. The Organization of The Islamic Conference (OIC), the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council of the Arab States (GCC), the Muslim World League, the Non aligned movement ( NAM ), the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), the Interpol and the Cranc Montana Forum & Monaco World Summit are all represented in the conference. In Kuwait the 50-member parliament unanimously approved a draft law on search for and seizure of illegal weapons proposed by the government and the new law is to be effective for two years. According to the report of the internal and defense affairs committee, the draft comes in five articles. The first grants the general prosecutor or a deputy to issue search warrants on private homes as well as public and private areas and transportation. This is to be upon request from the minister of interior or an official in his stead, should investigation point out suspicion of possession or presence of unlicensed weapons, explosives and other illegal items or substances used in manufacturing of arms. The second indicates the search operation must be strictly within the provisions of the warrant and within the restraints of law 17/1960 concerning proper criminal trial and procedure. The third stressed this does not cancel immunity for certain individuals and locations according to international agreements and other laws. The fourth comes to state that those who hand over such items to the authorities within three months of putting the law into effect would be exempted from the set penalties. The fifth article states that all ministers, each within his unique capacities, must see to it this law is put in effect adding the law is effective as of the date of its announcement through the official gazette. The internal and defense affairs committee presented a set of recommendations and the first was that First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister presents a report to the assembly within 30 days of expiration of the two-year period detailing procedures taken in implementation of the new law. The committee also stressed it is crucial that authorities regularly announce locations where such illegal items can be handed over through all media. The interior ministry was also requested to report to the assembly on procedures in this regard. Another recommendation was that the government starts by issue of licenses for possession of weapons, hunting rifles and personal weapons in particular, to members of the public according to the provisions of decree 13/1991. Concerned authorities were also urged to boost search and control over land, marine and air ports to block entry and counter smuggling of weapons, ammunition and other illegal articles. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah underscored the government's determination to track down and crush anyone involved in terrorist activities. Speaking to the press after a National Assembly meeting specially convened to discuss the security situation in the country, Sheikh Sabah indicated that terrorism would be fought not with weapons only but with trying to gain the hearts and minds of the youth who might be at risk of turning to terrorist actions. He thanked the Assembly for putting its trust in government's assiduous plans to fight terrorism saying that the Assembly's trust bolsters cooperation between both the legislative and executive branches. He revealed that among draft laws the government is suggesting to be discussed by the Assembly is one regarding home searches for illegal acquisition of weapons and another addressing the margins allowable for the press to operate within. "Some of the the printed material one reads is unacceptable. There must be a positive role that the press can play in giving proper direction to the youth of the country," he said. Besides that, he said some government agencies, including the Ministries of Information, of the Interior, and of the Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, would be getting additional budgetary infusions in order to run programs aimed at preaching the spirit of moderation and respect of other's faiths and creeds to Kuwaiti youths. Commenting on the activities of militant Islamists in the region, he said their violent-proned activities flew in the face of the gracious teachings of Islam. He described those carrying out acts of terrorism as individuals devoid of the spirit of Islam. The Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah confirmed in an interview published in Riyadh that there is full security cooperation between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to eradicate terrorism and pluck out this phenomenon. Sheikh Sabah revealed to the Saudi daily Okaz that there were a number of Saudis and stateless individuals among the terrorists wanted by the Kuwaiti security forces, who are linked to the recent terrorist incidents that occurred in Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah said all of Kuwait, adults and youngsters have supported the government in its confrontation of terrorism, commending security forces' courage and heroism for sacrificing their lives to defend their homeland. The Prime Minister confirmed Kuwait's participation in the international conference to fight terrorism, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia next Saturday in Riyadh, noting that terrorism has become a global phenomenon that requires a collaboration of efforts to put and end to it. On the Iraqi elections, Sheikh Sabah commented that the issue is strictly an internal affair that concerns Iraqis, expressing hope that the elections would contribute in restoring stability in Iraq. Meanwhile the Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi said in press statements that the goal of the terrorists in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is one and that is to cause disorder and instability in the two countries. Al-Kharafi re-affirmed to the Saudi "Okaz" daily that security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is on the highest levels and that the security of the two countries is one and efforts will continue to abort the plans and goals of these terrorists. He said that the terrorist incidents witnessed in Kuwait do not represent the beliefs of the Kuwaiti poeple who fully reject these ideologies, as in the other gulf and Arab states. He added that these attacks are desperate attempts by the terrorists to destabilize the country's security but this is a far-fetched goal especially that the Kuwaiti people and their leadership are well united and the security forces are highly alert. The Kuwaiti official called for intensifying the cooperation to fight terrorism and to not blow these incidents out of proportion. He stressed that any such future attacks will be confronted with firm security measures. Parliament Speaker Jasem Al-Kharafi announced that the special session to discuss the bill of weapons confiscation is to be held behind closed-doors upon a request by the government. "Uppon a request by the government, the session is to be held behind closed-doors," the speaker said. The session, which will also discuss terrorism and the recent unrest in Kuwait, was initially scheduled to be open to the public. Deputy Premier, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Parliament Affairs Mohammed Daifallah Sharar said that the government requested that the session be held behind closed-doors in accordance with article 69 of the parliament bylaws. Article 69 stipulates that "Parliament session are open to the public, however they could be held behind closed-doors upon a request by the government or the parliament speaker or at lest 10 MPs. The request has to be discussed in a closed session." Kuwaiti Security forces killed five terrorists and arrested four others in the clashes that erupted early Monday in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Area south of Kuwait city, a security source told KUNA. The source praised the cooperation of Kuwaiti citizens with the security forces during today's gunbattle. One Kuwaiti civilian was killed and five security men were wounded, one of them critically, in the ongoing gunfight between local security forces and militants in Mubarak Al-Kabeer residential area. Director of Public Relations and Moral Guidance Department at the Interior Ministry Lieutenant Colonel Adel AL-Hashas had told KUNA and Kuwait TV earlier that the number of terrorists being pursued is between 9-10 .None of them were able to escape he said. For his part, the Health Minister Dr. Mohammed AL-Jarallah said the wounded security men are in stable condition, however one of them is in Intensive Care. The leader of the terrorist cell involved in Monday's fierce clashes with Kuwaiti security forces in Mubarak Al-Kabeer residential area has surrendered to the authorities, a security source said. Four terrorists were killed and three others were wounded while another three including the leader of the terrorist cell Amer Khulaif Al-Enezi have surrendered to security forces, Interior Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Adel Al-Hashas said. The operation is over and the terrorist cell in Mubarak Al-Kabeer has been completely crushed, he added. In Egypt Egyptian security forces are besieging about 100 armed Bedouin in Sinai who could be sheltering two men accused of bombing two Red Sea resorts in October, security sources say. A gunbattle between the Bedouin and police in the same area wounded one policeman and killed another suspect, the Interior Ministry said last Tuesday. At least 34 people were killed in three bombings on October 7 at Taba and two beach camps to the south. Egypt says that Israelis were the targets, but the victims included Egyptians, Russians and Italians. A security source said security forces and the Bedouin had clashed since early Tuesday. "(The Bedouin) have large quantities of automatic weapons and ammunition," he said. They were also armed with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. He did not say whether there were new casualties from fighting in hills near the town of Ras Sidr in central Sinai. The security sources said the Bedouin could be sheltering two fugitive bombers, Mohamed Ahmed Saleh Fulayfel and Hammad Gumaa, and three others wanted for questioning over the blasts. Two other bombers were killed in the Taba attack when their bomb went off early. Egypt has said the bombers were not part of a wider militant network or linked to al Qaeda. Police said in October they had arrested five men, all Sinai Bedouin, as accomplices in the bombings. Most of them were from the north coast town of El Arish, near the Israeli border. In Madrid, Spain has arrested four Moroccan nationals said directly linked to the March 11 train bombings investigation in Madrid. The four all belong to the same family believed to have links to Morocco's Moroccan Islamic Combat Group (MICG), the interior ministry said. The four were arrested in the early hours at their home in the Madrid suburb of Leganes following police operations in Belgium, France and Spain. The ministry named the four as husband and wife Allal Moussaten, 43, and Safia Belhadj, 42, and Brahim Moussaten and Mohamed Moussaten, both 20. It said "they may be part of this terrorist group", MICG. A total of 18 people, mainly Moroccans, are already detained in Spain on suspicion of involvement in the coordinated bombings of four commuter trains which killed 191 people and injured around 1,900 in Spain's worst terrorist attack. Another suspect is in detention in Morocco. In the only case to come to trial so far a teenage Spaniard, nicknamed the "little gypsy", was sentenced to six years in jail last November after pleading guilty to transporting explosives and collaboration with an armed group.