By Tariq Khonji
THE fight against terrorism in the region will top the agenda of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' (IISS) second Gulf Dialogue next month. The three-day strategic defence conference will open at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa on December 2.
Regional and International government officials at the ministerial level, including defence, interior and national security advisers, as well as scholars and academicians, will be taking part in the event.
In addition to the GCC countries, the countries taking part are Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Singapore, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
Joining them for the first time this year are China, India and Germany, according to sources.
Studies of regional security issues will be presented to decision-makers to provide them with more information in the field.
The event will also be a good opportunity for them to strengthen security links and discuss key security challenges, the sources said.
The keynote address will be by Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Yemeni Interior Minister Major General Dr Rashad Mohammed Al Alimi and Iraqi National Security Adviser Dr Kassim Daoud will speak on challenges to counter-terrorism policy in the Gulf.
Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for Security and Defence Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, UK Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister and Defence and Overseas Secretariat head Sir Nigel Sheinwald and US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley will speak at a forum on external perspectives on the counter-terrorism challenges.
Omani Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdulla and Qatari Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani will take part in a session on the impact of political and economic reform on Gulf security.
Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, Kuwaiti National Security Bureau President Shaikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, French presidential adviser Maurice Gourdault-Montagne and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Research Ali Reza Moayeri will discuss a new framework for regional security.
Taking part in a session on military trends and new security threats session are Chief of the UK Defence Staff General Sir Michael Walker, US Central Command Commander General John Abizaid and Dr Daoud. The event is organised by the IISS and supported by the Bahraini government.
