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November 17, 2006 |
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INTERIOR MINISTERS OF THE GCC FORM A COMMITTEE TO COMBAT TERRORISM. PRINCE NAÏF BIN ABDUL AZIZ: COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG THE MEMBER STATES PROVIDE US WITH A SOLID GROUND THAT IS CAPABLE OF MEETING OUR SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. THE LEBANESE CABINET AGREES ON THE DRAFT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT AND PRIMIER SINIORA REFUSES THE RESIGNATION OF 6 MINISTERS. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in Riyadh on a visit to the Kingdom. On his arrival at the Riyadh Airbase, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, received President Saleh. The Yemeni President was also greeted by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, princes, ministers and senior officials. At the outset of the session King Abdullah welcomed his brother President Ali Abdullah Saleh. For his part, President Saleh expressed his thanks to King Abdullah for his warm welcome and hospitality. King Abdullah and President Saleh reviewed overall developments in the Arab, Islamic and international arena foremost of which is the situation in Palestine and Iraq and aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in the service of the two countries' people. The talks were attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, other princes and senior officials of the two sides. President Saleh is accompanied by Abdul Karim Al-Aryani, Advisor to President Saleh, Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Qerbi, Foreign and Expatriates Minister and major General Abdullah Hussein Al-Basheri, Presidency Secretary General. Later, King Abdullah hosted a banquet in honor of President Abdullah Saleh and his accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by, Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation, Prince Meteb Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh, Prince Abdulelah Bin Abdul Aziz, Prince Meqrin Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence, princes, ministers and senior officials. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh received a group of Saudi investors and businessmen from various Saudi investment companies. The meeting focused on a number of prospective investment projects in various fields including water and electricity sectors. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Salih left Riyadh after a short visit to the kingdom. the President was seen off by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, other princes, ministers and senior officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at his palace in Riyadh visiting Attorney General of the U.S. state of Colorado John Suthers and accompanying delegation. During the meeting, the case of Humadan Al Turiki, a Saudi national who is currently detained in Colorado state, was discussed. The King expressed great concern for revealing the truth and realizing justice in this case. The audience was attended by Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Advisor at the royal court, and James Oberwetter, the U.S. Ambassador to the kingdom. On the other hand Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz held talks with the U.S. President Assistant for Internal Security Affairs and Combating Terrorism Francis Townsend during a meeting at his farm at Al Janadriya on the northern outskirts of Riyadh. During the meeting, the U.S. official conveyed to the Monarch the greetings of President George W. Bush. In turn, King Abdullah sent his greetings to President Bush. The meeting was attended by Prince Badr Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Commander of the National Guard; Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior For Security Affairs, Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Advisor at the Royal Court; and Us. Ambassador to the Kingdom James Oberwetter. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received at his farm at Al Janadriya on the northern outskirts of Riyadh the U.S. President Assistant for Internal Security Affairs and Combating Terrorism Francis Townsend and accompanying delegation. The U.S. official and her delegation had dinner with the monarch. the audience was attended by Prince Badr Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Commander of the National Guard; Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman; Prince Abul-Ilha Bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince General Mit'eb Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs; Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, other princes, a Number of Senior Officials and US. Ambassador to the Kingdom James Oberwetter. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received U.S. President Assistant for Internal Security Affairs Francis Townsend and accompanying delegation. During the meeting, she conveyed to Crown Prince Sultan the greetings of President George W. Bush. In turn, Crown Prince Sultan sent his greetings to President Bush. During the meeting, cordial talks were exchanged and matters of mutual concern were discussed. The audience was attended by Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, senior protocol officials and U.S. Ambassador to the kingdom James Oberwetter. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority and chairman of executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization. During the call, they discussed development of the situation at the Palestinian arena and bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul received a telephone call from Lebanese Premier Fouad Al-Siniora. During the call, they discussed situation at the Lebanese arena, topics of mutual interest and bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries. On the other hand the GCC Interior Ministers held their 25th session in Abu Dhabi. The ministers reviewed a number of topics including security cooperation and coordination. The Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is comprised of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, left Riyadh heading for the United Arab Emirates to lead Saudi Arabia's delegation to the GCC interior ministers 25th meeting scheduled for Abu Dhabi. At Riyadh airbase, he was seen off by Prince Mohammed Bin Saad Bin Abdul Aziz, advisor to the Minister of Interior; Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs; and senior civil and military officials. Prince Naif was accompanied by senior officials. In a statement prior to departure, Prince Naif briefed reporters on the issues the GCC Interior Ministers are slated to discuss. Security matters in general and terrorism in particular will receive priority, he said, adding that cooperation among our security departments will focus on how to deal directly without bureaucratic ways. "We are going to deal as one department", he explained. Other issues on the agenda are procedural, Prince Naif told reporters. In response to a question, he said the situation in Iraq changes on daily bases and incurs numerous threats which we are closely monitoring. He described Iraq as today's main base for terrorism, noting that some Saudi youth were lured to go there and used by other parties as explosive devices. They travel normally to Jordan or Syria from where they can easily find their ways to Iraq, he explained when asked about how they cross the Saudi border into Iraq, a matter he categorically denied. Commenting on his meeting with Iraq's Vice President Tariq Al-Hashmi in Makah recently, Prince Naif said the meeting was cordial and no specific matter was on the table. Prince Naif said Al-Hashmi briefed him on the situation in Iraq. The Saudi Minister of Interior expressed readiness to cooperate with iraq's interior ministry, noting that the "their ability of security control seems limited up to now". In response to a question if a date was fixed to try those directly involved in terrorist explosions in the kingdom, the minister of interior said he hopes it would not last long. Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, arrived in Abu Dhabi to lead Saudi Arabia's delegation to the GCC interior ministers 25th meeting. At Abu Dhabi emirate airport, he was received by Sheikh Seif Bin Zayid Al Nahayan, the Interior Minister of United Arab Emirates (uae), senior officials and Saudi Ambassador to UAE Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Muammar. Prince Naif was accompanied by a number of princes and senior officials. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, The President Of The United Arab Emirates (UAE), received Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Interior Minister, and his counterparts in member states of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who are currently meeting in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to the UAE Dr Abdullah Bin Muammar and Under Secretary of the Interior Ministry Dr Ahmad Al-Salim. The 25th meeting of the Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries began. The Saudi delegation to the meeting was led by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, who delivered a speech at the meeting highlighting and urging cooperation and coordination among security agencies and other institutions of the GCC countries in dealing with the security and stability of the GCC countries. Prince Naif invited the ministers to their next meeting in Saudi Arabia on the set date. Following the opening session, the ministers held a closed-door meeting. Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries honored the winners of the GCC prize for security research. The honoring came on the sidelines of the 25th meeting of the Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The winners of the prize were Dr. Rashid Al Baz From Saudi Arabia and A'fraa Al Babtain from Kuwait. The Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC)concluded their 25th meeting. The Saudi delegation to the meeting was led by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister. In a statement read by GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah, the ministers laid stress on their countries' inalienable stands renouncing the dangerous and destructive phenomenon of terrorism in all its forms and sources. The ministers decided to form a permanent committee to combat terrorism, noting that all relevant matters should be referred to it. The interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council concluded their meeting in Abu Dhabi calling for an integrated regional plan to confront terrorism and setting up a permanent panel to defeat terror and deal with related issues. Interior Minister Prince Naif emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to protect security of member countries, taking into consideration the different aspects including deterrent and preventive measures. "The coordination and cooperation among the member states provide us a solid ground that is capable of meeting our security requirements," Naif told the meeting. In his speech, Prince Naif also called for greater cooperation and coordination among GCC security agencies. "This cooperation must cover all social, educational, intellectual and media institutions as security is a joint responsibility," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the prince as saying. Prince Naif said social institutions could play a significant role in supporting security agencies and making their mission a success. "By achieving this integration of security agencies and society we will be able to protect our citizens from dangerous ideologies and deviant thoughts." The ministers expressed their concern and fear of the possibility of occurrence of human and environmental damages and catastrophes as a result of Iranian nuclear reactors that might affect the GCC countries because of geographical proximity, calling for peaceful means and full cooperation with the international agency of atomic energy in dealing with this file. Delegates also expressed fears of a human and environmental catastrophe as a result of a possible US attack on Iran's nuclear installations, adding that it would have a negative impact on the whole Gulf region. The meeting urged the international community to handle the issue of Iran's nuclear program diplomatically. It also asked Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). With regard to Iraq's affairs, they affirmed the necessity of restoration of security and stability in Iraq through cooperation of the Iraqi people. In their final communiqué, the GCC ministers supported the Makkah Declaration by leaders of different Iraqi religious groups in the holy city last Ramadan and believed that it would help end violence in the country. They urged the Iraqis to abide by the terms and conditions set by the charter in order to prevent Iraq becoming a stage for conflicts, settlement of accounts and foreign interference. The ministers called upon all Iraqi groups to shun their differences in order to bring back peace and stability to their country and opposed foreign interference in Iraq's internal affairs. On the Palestinian situation, the ministers condemned Israel's brutal massacres against the Palestinian people. While condemning the Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, the meeting urged the international community to stop the Jewish state's arrogance. Earlier, Sheikh Saif ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan of the UAE, who presided over the meeting, emphasized the need for a comprehensive regional plan to combat violence and terrorism. "We have to come out with executive measures such as creating a mechanism to exchange security information, monitor movement of suspects and ensure respect for law in all member states." The meeting urged all member states to complete procedures for the issuance of electronic identity cards in order to facilitate travel of GCC citizens between them. The meeting also announced that two researchers shared the GCC award for security research on the topic of "The Role of Social Partnership in the National Security of Member States." The ministers reiterated their call for removing all factors that would promote violence and terrorism. They denounced the move by certain sections of the media to link Islam and Muslims with terrorism. Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, arrived in Riyadh coming from Abu-Dhabi after having led Saudi Arabia's delegation to the GCC interior ministers 25th conference. At Riyadh airbase, he was received by Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Interior, other princes, and senior civil and military officials. Prince Naif was accompanied by his official delegation. In Beirut the Lebanese cabinet approved a U.N. draft text setting up an international tribunal to try former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's suspected assassins. "We unanimously approved the draft," Saniora told a news conference after the three-hour meeting. "With this decision we tell the murderers that we will not give up our rights no matter what the difficulties and obstacles are," he said. "Our only aim is to achieve justice and only justice. Without it and without knowing the truth, the Lebanese will not rest and we cannot protect our democratic system and political freedom now and in the future." "Our brothers who could not join us in taking this decision were actually with us -- in our heart, our position and our decision," Saniora said, making an appeal for unity. Saniora convened the extraordinary session despite President Emile Lahoud's objections and the resignation of six ministers, five of them from Hezbollah and Amal. Environment Minister Yaacub Sarraf, who is close to Lahoud, announced his resignation,. Saniora rejected the resignations of the ministers and invited them in a letter to return to their "effective participation" in the cabinet. Lahoud has stepped up the pressure by saying the cabinet was no longer legitimate. The president's position, however, does not carry legal weight because he is not empowered to dissolve the government. All 18 remaining ministers attending the meeting approved the United Nations document, and they defended the cabinet's decision as legal. "It is 100 percent constitutional," Information Minister Ghazi Aridi quoted Saniora as saying. With Sarraf's resignation, a quarter of the 24-member cabinet had quit. But legally it still has the necessary two-thirds quorum to meet and make decisions. The direct challenge from the anti-Syrian March 14 Forces that dominate the cabinet and the parliament to convene the government could deepen the political divide. The parliamentary majority has accused Hezbollah and the Amal movement, the main pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian Shiite groups, of doing Damascus's and Tehran's bidding and seeking to undermine the formation of the international tribunal. The resignation of Hezbollah and Amal ministers came just after the country's top leaders failed to reach agreement on the formation of a national unity government in which Hezbollah and its affiliates would have a third-plus-one veto power, a demand vehemently rejected by the ruling majority. Hezbollah, which gained increasing political clout for its fierce fight against Israel over the summer, recently threatened to call mass protests with the aim of bringing down the government unless it received greater cabinet representation. But its senior political officer in south Lebanon Sheikh Hassan Ezzeddine told The Associated Press: "Before going to the street, there are other steps to be taken as a means to pressure the government to meet our demand to form a national unity government made up of all factions,". Lebanon received the final draft of a UN resolution on creating this court, which must be approved by the government before being sent to the UN Security Council for adoption. Hariri, whose son Saad heads the anti-Syrian bloc, was killed in a Beirut bombing last year that sparked protests leading to the departure of Syrian troops from Lebanon after almost three decades. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in an interview in October that his movement would call demonstrators onto the streets if necessary. The anti-Syrian majority says the country needs a tight government to carry out the post-war reconstruction and reform program with the help of the international community. But Hezbollah believes that only a national unity government can lead to stability and prevent Washington from interfering in Lebanon's affairs. The Head of the Future Parliamentary Bloc MP Saad Hariri commented on the Council of Minister's decision to agree on the draft proposal for the International Tribunal in PM Rafik Hariri's assassination: The decision is a blessed and decisive step on the path to achieve justice and uncover the truth about the assassination of Martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a demand made by all the Lebanese since the first moment of the assassination of late Prime Minister and Martyr MP Bassel Fuleihan and their companions. Lebanon has taken a step towards achieving the International Tribunal, which has been the unanimously accepted by all political leaderships in the National Dialogue. However, the Council of Ministers still needs to complete several additional steps with the United Nations and the Lebanese Parliament especially that the Lebanese people are waiting impatiently for their representatives to shoulder this historic responsibility concerning this vital issue. On this occasion, I would like to seize this opportunity to extend my appreciation to his Excellency Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, to the Ministers and to the judicial team that exerted utmost efforts on the issue of the International Tribunal in this terrorist crime and all other crimes that targeted Lebanon. Their efforts are worthy of the thanks and gratitude of all Lebanese. Prime Minister Siniora expressed during the ministerial session and after it, the feelings of every free and honest Lebanese who look forward for realizing stability in Lebanon, and for confronting the wave of terrorism and crime that targeted our country and wanted to subjugate our free national sovereignty to the forces of tyranny and terrorism. Any attempt to obstruct or hinder the establishment of the International Tribunal will be to no avail. The Council of Ministers' decision was a natural, constitutional, legal and national response to such attempts. It is time for everyone to participate in the moment of truth and stand together in order to save Lebanon and obstruct all the plans of those who will be harmed from the rule of law and justice. Those criminal assassins are the ones who are afraid by the establishment of the International Tribunal. And no Lebanese regardless of his position should place himself in this position of fear, especially that we all aim to achieve justice and uncover the parties or individuals who planned or executed this criminal and terrorist plan that lead to the death of many Lebanese national leaders. I would like to reiterate, in my name, the name of my family and the Future Movement my thanks to the Council of Ministers and its President, to Minister Charles Rizk and the legal and judicial team that worked with him and which was in constant contact with the International organizations which completed the legal framework of the International Tribunal status, thus completing the first stone in the edifice of justice awaited by Lebanon. Meanwhile Israeli warplanes have stopped mock air attacks targeting European peacekeepers in Lebanon following a French government protest, French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie said. "There is no more of that attitude -- that is, an openly hostile attitude -- like we had over a French vessel, a German vessel and the French ground forces, which caused a real danger of legitimate defense measures being taken," Alliot-Marie told reporters at an EU meeting in Brussels. Paris demanded that Israel stop the raids after French peacekeepers came within seconds of shooting down Israeli warplanes two weeks ago. Alliot-Marie said Israeli overflights of Lebanon were continuing in defiance of the United Nations, but said they were no longer taking a threatening approach to the peacekeepers. She repeated that French forces could have launched an "automatic defense reaction" after Israeli planes failed to identify themselves while flying mock bombing runs at peacekeepers. The commander of the French-led U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon said last week that such a scenario was avoided only because of restraint by French forces. "I call on Israel to end them," General Alain Pellegrini said of the overflights. "I have a hard time understanding them ... This is dangerous." The overflights "could give Hezbollah an occasion to react," Pellegrini was quoted as saying. Israeli officials said flights over Lebanon are needed to monitor Lebanese compliance with U.N. demands, and said they were working with the peacekeeping force to avoid misunderstandings. In Brussels EU foreign policy leaders expressed hope that a new Palestinian government could help revive Middle East peace negotiations. The prospect of Hamas and Fatah forming a new unity cabinet -- with Mohammad Shbair unofficially named to succeed Hamas member Ismail Haniya as Palestinian Prime Minister -- was welcome news to European foreign ministers at their monthly meeting in Brussels. "Such a government," they said in a joint statement, "would also be a partner for the international community to support the re-launching of the peace process." The EU's Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said she believed a new Palestinian leadership could break the current impasse in the Middle East. "Those seeking a new government need our support and a calm environment," commented Ferrero-Waldner. "Let's hope they have a good government with which we can work." Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also welcomed the prospect of change. "The talks between Fatah and Hamas seem to indicate that a national unity government could be possible," Steinmeier said. "That would get the process of negotiations moving." And the EU's foreign policy coordinator Javier Solana added that he was "optimistic" there would soon be a new Palestinian government. |
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