MANAMA DEC. 8 (BNA) The Activities Of The Three Day 3rd International Institute For Strategic Studies (Iiss) Regional Security Summit, Manama Dialogue, Kicked Off In Bahrain Tonight.
In an opening speech, Saudi General Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz al Saud affirmed that the importance of the event for Gulf region security ties in that the area has become an important component of regional and international security.
For this purpose, there were serious attempts to create a formula aimed at achieving this strategic goal in a balanced manner that ensures its efficiency and sustainability, despite the existence of many obstacles, he said.
The most dangerous threat confronting gulf security in both long and short runs is the Israeli nuclear arsenal which may have inspired certain moderate countries to join the current nuclear trend, he continued.
Prince Muqrin added that the spread of mass destruction weapons in the region will increase the complexity of its security issues and give regional countries the right to adopt policies and make alliances with countries owning nuclear technology.
In addition to that, moderate countries with policies calling for elimination of mass destruction weapons will be stimulated to create concealed or declared nuclear programmes in order to attain a military balance in defence of its interests, gains and beliefs, he remarked.
The second main challenge facing the area is the state of instability in Iraq and the deterioration of the situation there that put the country on the verge of civil war, the chief of intelligence said.
Iraq has become both a magnet and source of terrorist factions and has inevitably thrown its shadows on the security and stability of other GCC states, he noted.
Prince Muqrin said this calls for joining efforts to help Iraq and avoid intervention in its internal affairs.
The third obstacle mentioned by the Saudi prince was the increasing sectarian and ethnic tendencies and the inclination of some groups to foster violence and extremism in the gulf community.
He said this requires avoiding ideological differences and the disagreements they bring on the level of political and security principles.
Prince Muqrin called for the importance of materializing cooperative security to maintain regional stability.
He then affirmed that unemployment and expatriate workforce are also a source of threat to gulf security especially in light of the rapid increase of both legal and illegal foreign manpower and the serious economic, political, social and security drawbacks it brings.
If no solutions were found in coordination with the countries of origin of these minorities then many security and social problems should be expected, he warned pointing that the region, mainly GCC states will pay the price of that.
The summit started this evening with a speech by IISS Director General and Chief Executive Dr. John Chipman.
He said that the important feature of this year's summit in comparison to the ones held in 2004 and 2005 is the participation of a bigger number of ministers and security advisors.
Twenty two countries are participating in this gathering, including Iraq, Iran, Yemen, India and Australia in addition to Pakistan which takes part in the event for the first time.
The Manama Dialogue is considered a unique political forum where top officials and defence, foreign policy and national security experts discuss issues related to regional security in the gulf.
Gulf security and the us, regional security perceptions and the GCC and Europe are among the topics tackled at the event.
