Remarks By Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al Alimi, Minister of the Interior, Republic of Yemen
To The Second IISS Regional Security Summit, Kingdom of Bahrain on 2 December 2005
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me in the beginning to express my deepest thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain and our friends in the IISS for the remarkable success achieved by the 1st Gulf Security Summit which enriched construction dialogue and exchange of visions and views around major strategic issues. We are here today not only to discuss issues related to our regional security, but also to talk about related international, security and strategic issues. Holding the 2nd conference in Bahrainis yet an evidence for this success through which we look forward to boost and promote joint action among all regional parties affirming comprehensive cooperation to fulfill our urgent political and security targets as well as protect our mutual interests.
Ladies and gentlemen
The security challenges we have faced whether at the local, regional or international levels hindered our efforts towards achieving security, development and prosperity for our peoples. These conditions depleted our resources and potentials and affected relations among regional states. In my opinion the main challenges that we have to face together with one team spirit are as follows:
First: Terrorism:
It is well known that terrorism is not a problem of a specific country or region but it has become a threat to the peace and security of all countries of the world. No country could face this alone, therefore we have to work collectively to combat and eliminate terrorism. As we refer to this fact we reiterate what has been reviewed by 1st Gulf Security Summit on the experiment of the republic of Yemenas an active and key partner in the international initiatives to combat terrorism. He procedures we have adopted can be summarized in four main topics as follows:
The strict security measures leading to the arrest and conviction of terrorist cells which took part in terrorist actions, as well as dissolution of their networks and their terrorist plans aimed at carrying out assassination and explosions against certain personalities, national and foreign interests. Security Departments succeeded during the years from 2002-2005 to discover (9) terrorist operations, in addition to 11 cases referred to the court where 130 individuals face accusations.
The preventive and precautionary measures and conducting dialogues through some religious scholars and counselors. These measures included early supervision on religious education to avoid the growth of fanaticism and rectify the wrong thinking of youth towards religious issues as well as inclusion of those youth into the society. The outcome was satisfactory.
The legislative and financial procedures which led to control and supervision of finance sources of civil societies and establishments as well as the strict control on opening of bank accounts and money remittance for all banks in Yemento combat money laundering and prevent funding of terrorist operations.
The procedures related to cooperation with the international community and enforcement of UN resolutions regarding combating terrorism through active participation in the deliberations of the Organization and signing most of the international conventions.
Second: Political Conflicts in Iraq and Palestine:
No doubt, the security and political situation in Iraq is unstable as well as the continuation of Arab Israeli conflict in Palestine, have been agreeable environment for terrorist organizations to attract youth and deceive them with false allegations taking advantage of high rise in unemployment, poverty and illiteracy and ignorance towards the real and authentic values of the Islamic religion and its tolerance. These factors contributed to increased acceptance of terrorist allegations, in addition to the presence of the allies forces in Iraq and continuation of the aggression by Israeli towards the Palestinian people ignoring all principles of international legitimacy and UN resolutions regarding the age old conflict. The establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds as its capital and restoration of peace and security in Iraq through the participation of all the Iraqi people in reconstruction of an independent democratic Iraqwould boost peace efforts and combat terrorism in the region.
Third: Security Instability in Somalia:
The deteriorating security situation in Somalia during past decades has posed great threat to the stability of the region with negative impacts on South Red Sea area and safety of international navigation movement. The impact reached some of the regional state and some other parts of the world through the spread of maritime piracy in this strategic part of the world, as well as the dangers of illegal migration of people escaping the conflict and the potential of infiltration of some terrorist groups via the shores. All these facts created an economic, health and security burden on Yemen then the rest of the regional states and other world countries. The immigrants take Yemen as a link to reach Gulf States and Europe by all means available to them. Therefore it is very important to provide regional and international assistance to the efforts of stability in Somalia by supporting the elected legitimate government to spread peace and security and build Somaliastate institutions.
Fourth: Security of the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden:
Safety of navigation in this region is a great regional and international concern. Maritime navigation has faced terrorist acts and piracy and this threat still exist in addition to smuggling and infiltration operations. No doubt, the security of this maritime region is a joint regional and international responsibility that requires us to support the efforts of the Republic of Yemen in ensuring its long coasts which in turn would guard the Gulf region and the peninsula against organized crime, in addition to the partnership of African countries in ensuring stability and security in this region.
Fifth: Impact of Terrorism and Organized Crime on the Security of the Region:
Manipulation of armed conflicts and security deterioration in the above mentioned countries was not limited to terrorist organizations aimed at shaking the stability and peace, but also encouraged criminal organizations and smuggling networks to benefit from these circumstances to double their activities through smuggling operations of weapons in order to be used in committing terrorist acts in the region. the activities of drug smuggling expanded to make youth easy target used to shake stability and security. Some of those persons use Yemen as a transit station to other countries, other activities emerged along with these operations such as human and archeology trafficking.
Ladies and gentlemen
The great security challenges we face in our region require more courageous initiatives and more transparent procedures in line with the recent development. It is necessary to unify our actions considering that any harm to the security of any state would harm other states.
Our vision in Yemen to achieve security and regional partner ship requires a number of steps :
Comprehensive coordination and cooperation among security bodies in countries of the region as well as exchange of information and placing joints plans and programs to face security challenges. In this regard we affirm the importance of the proposal on establishing a regional center to coordinate security efforts and exchange information related to terrorism.
Activate regional and international cooperation to combat terrorism , international smuggling networks , combating weapon and drug smuggling through boosting operations of border safety and develop control methods in terrestrial, maritime and air outlets.
Cooperation in matters related to building of capacities of security bodies in the region namely those countries of limited economic capabilities by providing them with the most advanced means and equipment to in able them to secure peace and stability as well as cooperation in the field of training to enhance efficiency of security men.
Boost economic and social partner ship between the GCC countries and Yemen.
The republic of Yemenwith it’s humble capabilities and without through participation of neighbouring GCC countries could not carry out its strategic security role . Yemen allocates a budget for security which normally on the account of the allocations of development and basics needs of the citizens, there for we hope that the sincere wish of cooperation would be translated into practical steps.
As part of the pursuits of Yemen to establish regional participation , it was keen to establish good relations with the GCC and signed a number of operation agreements and security partnerships bilaterally and regionally. We consider the Saudi Yemeni cooperation is a model that should be followed by the rest of the gulf statesand the region. Security cooperation and exchange of information between the two countries led to arresting many of the wanted individuals and frustrating a number of terrorists and criminal operations.
In the field of combating the spread of a illegal use of weapons, Yemen has taken steps to tackle this phenomena which is escalated as a result of liberalization and international, regional and local conflicts. Perhaps the most important steps were the issuance of legislations and regulations aimed at regulating use of weapons and acquisition. Despite of our limited resources, we boat and collected weapons from the citizens which a cost of nine billion Yemeni Riyal . The government is exerting great and exceptional efforts to stop smuggling to Somaliain implementation of the pan resolution of the united nation.
At the level of the steps taken by Yemento combat region and international terrorism the government established the Directorate of coast guard to undertake the responsibility of navigation security. In addition security bodies prevent any activity of flow of terrorists.
Through coordination between relevant security bodies in Yemenand there counter part in a number of neighbouring countries many terrorist operation were frustrated.
Ladies and gentlemen
In conclusion we hope that fruitful cooperation would flourish in the region and I would like to reaffirm that any security strategy of the region should but into consideration the circumstances of each country with in comprehensive look to the condition of the region starting from development ,combating poverty, and ending with political and economic reform as well as handling the problems of fanaticism, smuggling and infiltration. A true cooperation and partnership are key factors to achieve security and stability of this important region and worldwide.
