03 May 2012
RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia Wednesday reiterated that it would not tolerate threats to the sovereignty of any of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. "Any harm that comes across any of our countries is harm that touches us all," Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, told a meeting of GCC interior ministers here.
Prince Naif also condemned Iran's "unacceptable practice" in the occupation of the three United Arab Emirates' islands and the recent bomb blast in Bahrain which injured seven security personnel. "We stress that Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC countries are standing in a unified line with Bahrain and the UAE to protect sovereignty and stability, considering their security a part of the Council's security as a whole," Prince Naif said.
Addressing the ministers, Prince Naif said "you all have exerted great efforts to update and develop the project on Gulf security agreement. It is an ambitious and vital project for the good of all our countries. The agreement would result in protecting the gains of stability and collective security of all member countries."
Sheikh Ahmad Hamoud Al-Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, stressed the importance of the Gulf security agreement as it would boost anti-crime cooperation among the member countries. "Achieving security is the joint responsibility of the citizens and law enforcement agencies," he said.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad angered the Gulf countries when he made a rare visit to Abu Musa, one of three UAE islands, last month. The island is located near oil shipping routes at the mouth of the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz.
Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister, said in a speech over the weekend that Gulf Arab states are pushing ahead with plans for a political union that would involve joint foreign and defense policies, an idea floated by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, last December.
After Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Musa, some 40 miles off the UAE coast, Tehran said its sovereignty over the three islands was not negotiable but it has also called for talks with the UAE to clear up "misunderstandings".
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, quoted by the student news agency ISNA, said Iran wanted to "have the best possible relations with the UAE, as our trade and economic relations are significant."
RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia Wednesday reiterated that it would not tolerate threats to the sovereignty of any of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. "Any harm that comes across any of our countries is harm that touches us all," Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, told a meeting of GCC interior ministers here.
Prince Naif also condemned Iran's "unacceptable practice" in the occupation of the three United Arab Emirates' islands and the recent bomb blast in Bahrain which injured seven security personnel. "We stress that Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC countries are standing in a unified line with Bahrain and the UAE to protect sovereignty and stability, considering their security a part of the Council's security as a whole," Prince Naif said.
Addressing the ministers, Prince Naif said "you all have exerted great efforts to update and develop the project on Gulf security agreement. It is an ambitious and vital project for the good of all our countries. The agreement would result in protecting the gains of stability and collective security of all member countries."
Sheikh Ahmad Hamoud Al-Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, stressed the importance of the Gulf security agreement as it would boost anti-crime cooperation among the member countries. "Achieving security is the joint responsibility of the citizens and law enforcement agencies," he said.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad angered the Gulf countries when he made a rare visit to Abu Musa, one of three UAE islands, last month. The island is located near oil shipping routes at the mouth of the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz.
Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister, said in a speech over the weekend that Gulf Arab states are pushing ahead with plans for a political union that would involve joint foreign and defense policies, an idea floated by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, last December.
After Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Musa, some 40 miles off the UAE coast, Tehran said its sovereignty over the three islands was not negotiable but it has also called for talks with the UAE to clear up "misunderstandings".
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, quoted by the student news agency ISNA, said Iran wanted to "have the best possible relations with the UAE, as our trade and economic relations are significant."
© The Saudi Gazette 2012
