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May 26, 2006 |
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THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR STRESSES THE ROLE OF SECURITY IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION TO CONFRONT TERRORISM. THE MINISTERS LAUD THE SAUDI EFFORTS AND THE SUCCESS OF THE SECURITY FORCES IN FIGHTING TERRORISM. THE MINISTERS COMMEND SAUDI ARABIA AND OMAN FOR SIGNING A BILATERAL DECLARATION THAT ALLOW CITIZENS TO MOVE FREELY BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WITH THE IDENTITY CARD. THE INTERIOR MINISTERS' COUNCIL SUPPORT THE STABILITY OF IRAQ AND THE PALESTINIANS RIGHTS. Interior ministers of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council held their seventh Consultative Meeting. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led his country's delegation to the meeting. In a key address, Prince Naif said the meeting comes amid unprecedented victories of security forces in the Gulf Region over terrorists. He drew common lines between development, security and information and media. The Interior Minister of the host country Sheikh General Saif Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan and chairman of the meeting and the Secretary General of the GCC each delivered a speech before and after Prince Naif respectively. Then the meeting turned to a closed-door session. Addressing the opening session, Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz emphasized the need for greater contributions from religious, media, and educational and social institutions toward strengthening security in the member countries. "It is very important that bridges of contacts and cooperation must be extended between these organizations and the security agencies in the GCC," he said. Prince Naif said such cooperation was essential to enhance security awareness of GCC citizens. "Security is a blessing that makes everybody happy. All must participate in preserving security and confronting those elements that remove security," he told the ministers from the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. The Saudi minister applauded security agencies in the member countries for their efforts in defeating terrorism. "This conference comes in the wake of our countries successful efforts in confronting terrorism and containing its perpetrators," he said and stressed the role of security in promoting economic, social and cultural development. In his address, GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya said the meeting was significant as it came in the backdrop fast-changing security developments in the world. He was apparently referring to the nuclear standoff between neighbouring Iran and Western countries, especially the United States. The UAE, which is the current President of GCC, said that Gulf countries planned to hold talks with Iran over concerns that Tehran's nuclear program could pose an environmental threat to them. Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan raised the environmental issue at a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who echoed long-held Western fears that Iran was secretly trying to build nuclear weapons. The President of the United Arab Emirates(UAE) Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan received heads of delegations, who were attending the seventh consultative meeting of the GCC Interior Ministers. Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz was heading the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The reception was attended by Undersecretary at the Interior Ministry Dr.Ahmad Ibn Mohammad Al-Salem, high-ranking officials and Saudi Ambassador to the UAE Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Mo'ammar. Sheikh Khalifa wished the meeting a great success to boost security and stability in the GCC states. During the meeting, the ministers briefed the UAE President on the important issues on their meeting agenda, including those related to resolutions and recommendations issued during the GCC consultation summit which was held recently in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. The ministers expressed profound gratitude to the UAE President for the warm reception accorded them. They wished him good health and happiness and the UAE and its people more progress and prosperity under his wise leadership. Sheikh Khalifa conveyed through the ministers his warmest greetings to the leaders of their respective countries, wishing them good health and their people more progress and prosperity. Interior Ministers of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, concluding their 7th consultative meeting in Abu-Dhabi, issued a joint communique, lauding the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its victories in confronting terrorist acts. The ministers also commended both the Kingdom and Oman signing on May 6, 2006 a bilateral declaration in Riyadh allowing citizens of the two countries to move freely between the two signatories carrying the national identity card. The GCC interior ministers reiterated their rejection to terrorism in all its forms and whatever its source. They expressed concern over what happens in Iraq, calling on all parties to practice self-constraint. They denounced the abduction of a UAE diplomat in Iraq, calling on his captors to release him immediately. On Palestine, they called on the Palestinian parties to unite ranks and heal injuries for the sake of achieving an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds as its capital. They said the Palestinian people should not be punished for their democratic choice, referring to HAMAS assumption of power in the Palestinian territories and Gaza Strip. The Riyadh-based Gulf Cooperation Council, made up of the Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, has issued a brochure containing the six-nation group's achievements over the past quarter century. To mark its 25th anniversary, the GCC gave an account on its achievements in the fields of foreign policy, military, security, economic, electric and water, human resources, information, and youth, sports and scouts cooperation. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior who led the Kingdom's delegation to the 7th Consultative Meeting of the GCC Interior Ministers, received at his guest residence in Abu-Dhabi Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Nassir Ibn Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of State for Interior Affairs of the State of Qatar. During the meeting, security matters of mutual concern were discussed. The meeting was attended by Dr. Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Al-Salim, Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry and senior officials. Interior Minister Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Head of the Saudi delegation participating in the seventh GCC Interior Ministers Consultative Meeting, attended the luncheon hosted by UAE's Minister of Interior Saif Ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan in honor of Heads of GCC delegations who are participating in the meeting. The luncheon was also attended by Prince Naif's accompanying delegation. It is worth mentioning that the Heads of GCC delegations had held a short session before the luncheon. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior, said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has proposed the set up of a counter-terrorism international center to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit and the GCC leaders endorsed Bahrain as its headquarters. In a departure press statement, Prince Naif pointed out that the center will be a reference to information on terrorism, noting that every country has a right to preserve information and it is up to the country to provide the center with any information. Replying to a question on the king's tour of a number of the kingdom's regions, he said that visits of Saudi leaders to their people are obvious, noting that the nation and citizens will be very pleased with his visits. On the Saudi detainees recently set free from Guantanamo Bay, Prince Naif said that they will be interrogated to know whether they are guilty or not of a terrorist act and later they will be referred to the judiciary authority for ruling. As for a Qatari detainee stripped of his nationality and received by the kingdom, Prince Naif stated that we look at the topic from a humanitarian viewpoint and cooperation with all. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the minister of interior, had left Riyadh heading for the United Arab Emirates to lead the kingdom's delegation to the 7th consultative meeting of the GCC interior ministers scheduled for Abu-Dhabi. Prince Naif's official delegation includes the Under Secretary of Ministry of Interior Dr. Ahmad Ibn Mohammad Al-Salim, Special Advisor to the Interior Minister Dr. Abdul Rahamn Ibn Ibrahim Al-Gamaz and other senior officials. At Riyadh air base, Prince Naif was seen off by a number of princes and civil and military officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the minister of interior, arrived in Abu Dhabi on a visit to United Arab Emirates to lead the kingdom's delegation to the 7th consultative meeting of the GCC interior ministers scheduled for Abu-Dhabi. At Al Amiri Airport in Abu-Dhabi, he was received by minister of interior, Sheikh Saif Ibn Zayid Al-Nahyan, a number of officials, the Saudi ambassador to UAE Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Bin Moamar and a number of embassy members. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, returned to Jeddah from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he was leading the Saudi delegation to the consultative meeting of Interior Ministers of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). He was welcomed by a number of senior officials. On the other hand a Common Market for The Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be established in 2007 and the currencies of the GCC states will be unified by the year 2010, according to the Council's Secretary General Abdul Rahman Ibn Hamad Al-Attiyah. Al-Attiyah made these remarks on Silver Jubilee celebrations of the GCC, which groups Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Al-Attiyah congratulated the GCC leaders on this occasion, pointing out to achievements accomplished by the GCC ever since its establishment in the fields of law, security, economy, education, health, insurance, retirement-benefits, trade, agriculture, industry, investment and real estate in addition to the realization of unity among the Council's states against various challenges. He also wished the GCC leaders and people all prosperity, stability and good health. In the Kingdom Prince Ahmad Ibn Abdul Aziz, the deputy interior minister, said the interior ministry has been exerting intensive efforts to seek return to the Kingdom of Saudi detainees at the prisons of Guantanamo because they are Saudi citizens and also for the sake of their families. Prince Ahmad, who was speaking after patronizing the awarding ceremony for the prize of the handicapped children, said "it is expected that new batches of detainees will be released." He denied the reports which said that the Kingdom was trading in children and said 'we have been doing our best to combat smuggling of children.' He noted that more than 500,000 persons illegally infiltrated to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last year. "These people come to the Kingdom looking for jobs, but this is not the proper way," he said. Asked if an eye-imprint system will be applied at the entry points, Prince Ahmad said modern technologies are used at the exit and entry points. In reply to another question as to when members of the deviant group will be tried, Prince Ahmad said 'those who were involved in crimes were already tried , some others were released and some are imprisoned.' "But as regards those who are known of their vicious crimes, their trial will be conducted soon." Prince Ahmad said the interior ministry has been exerting efforts for restoring the Saudi detainees at Guantanamo, and we hope they have learnt lessons from what happened to them and have become good citizens'. He denied the reports, which said some prisoners had fled from Hair prison. Prince Ahmad criticized the phenomenon of ideological and regional classification of citizens, and said 'we are all Arabs and Muslims in this country, other classifications are neither true nor acceptable, and should never exist. "But, there may be different views and the survival will be for the fittest, God willing', he added. Prince Ahmad said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz is concerned with the situation at the stock market, and said "we hope the situation will be better.' Upon the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the intensive efforts exerted by Saudi concerned authorities have resulted in regaining 15 Saudi citizens detained at Guantanamo Bay. They arrived in the Kingdom early last Friday, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior had stated. He said that measures have been completed to inform their families and all facilities will be provided for their families to meet them. Prince Naif expressed his appreciation of the concerned authorities in the United States of America for cooperation in facilitating their return. He added that the detainees will be subjected to the regulations applied in the Kingdom. The Prince stressed that efforts will continue for regaining the remaining Saudi detainees in the near future. The Official Security Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior Major General Eng. Mansour Ibn Sultan Al-Turki announced the names of Saudi detainees at Guantanamo Bay who arrived in the Kingdom. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he said that the detainees are: Saad Farhan Khatem Al-Malki; Khalid Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Morqi; Ibrahim Dhaifullah Nuaiman Al-Sahli; Khalid Rashid Ali Al-Mari; Adel Oklah Hassan Al-Nusseiri Al-Ruwaili; Saud Bazghan Ishiq Al-Shaibani Al-Otaibi; Abdul Hadi Ibn Mohammed Baden Al-Subaie'; Mohammed Ibn Jaied Hadi Al-Subaie'; Fahd Salih Sulaiman Al-Jatili; Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Rashidan; Abdul Rahman Othman Ahmed Al-Ghamdi; Abdullah Hamid Mohammed Al-Qahtani; Nawaf Ibn Fahd Homoud Al-Otaibi; Rashid Awad Rashid Al-Oweidhah; and Adnan Mohammed Ali Al-Saigh. He noted that anyone having relations with them and wants to inquire about them can contact on telephone No. 014034375. |
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