JEDDAH, 14 November 2006 -- The interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council concluded their meeting in Abu Dhabi yesterday 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."

In their final communiqu, 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.

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."

While condemning the Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, the meeting urged the international community to stop the Jewish state's arrogance. 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.

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).

By P.K. Abdul Ghafour

© Arab News 2006