DOHA: A two-day meeting of the Undersecretaries of the Ministries of Interior of the GCC states began here yesterday. Being held at the Doha Sheraton, the meeting is in preparation for the 34th GCC Interior Ministers’ meeting to be held here tomorrow.
The undersecretaries discussed issues, including those related to security cooperation among GCC member states to counter all forms of crime, and having greater security and stability in the GCC.
Major-General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, Director-General, Public Security, chaired the meeting and said it is in preparation for the 34th meeting of GCC interior ministers, based on shared collective responsibility to counter crime in all its forms and prevent its spread into societies.
“The meeting’s agenda includes recommendations of the undersecretaries’ emergency meetings and security committees and meetings, organised by the GCC General Secretariat this year, which shows our determination to push forwards security cooperation and face any challenges and developments, especially terrorism”, he added.
Al Khulaifi stressed the importance of cooperation among all GCC security services and coordination among intellectual, cultural, social and educational institutions to enlighten generations on challenges and dangers.
He urged a review of existing legislations to reduce the phenomenon of violence and extremism, and activating the conventions and common security strategies that can contribute to addressing dangers surrounding the region, based on religious and moral principles that fight crime and maintain human life, rights and dignity. He highlighted threats facing the GCC countries in the light of current regional developments, stressing the need to further strengthen security cooperation among member states.
Hazza’a Mubarak Al Hajri, GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Security Affairs, told the opening session that the GCC Security Affairs section had drafted the agenda of the meeting of the undersecretaries.
It includes follow-up on implementation of GCC interior ministers’ decisions at their 33th meeting in Kuwait last year, 16th consultative meeting held in Doha last April, and the outcome of two emergency meetings held at the GCC General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh this June and September. Al Hajri said the section has prepared a comprehensive report, including the most important recommendations made by security committee experts, who held a meeting this year to discuss, review and submit recommendations to the GCC interior ministers’ meeting.
The Peninsula
