By GEOFFREY BEW
A MAJOR security operation will get underway in Bahrain this weekend as top government officials from around the world gather for the annual Manama Dialogue. The event's dialogues manager Mark Allworthy revealed that thousands of police and military officers would be stationed around Manama to protect visiting delegates and transport them to and from the event, which takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.
The list of delegates attending is being kept secret for security reasons until the three-day conference begins today.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Germany's Minister of State for Europe GŸnter Gloser, Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Al Hashemi and senior security and military officials from several countries arrived in Bahrain last night to attend the conference.
Iraq's National Security adviser Mowaffak Al Rubaie is also expected to attend.
Mr Allworthy said the conference would be an enormous security operation for the Bahraini authorities.
"The entire Ritz-Carlton has been taken over and part of it will be locked down by the BDF and the Interior Ministry," he said.
"There will be high-level security and only vetted individuals will be allowed access to the area (where the event is happening).
"There will be more than 800 security officers around the hotel and the airport and in motorcades (transporting delegates).
"The travelling delegations will also have 200 security guards themselves."
Mr Allworthy said the Ritz-Carlton would be accepting guests and visitors during the event, but they would be subject to more extensive security checks than normal.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) will bring together 23 government delegations, including defence ministers, national security advisers and foreign ministers, for its fourth annual event.
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Defence Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa are expected to attend.
Officials from across the GCC, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Yemen, Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore and the UK will also take part.
They will discuss key security issues facing the region, such as the US and the regional balance of power, Iran, Iraq and energy security and territorial integrity.
A series of private bilateral meetings will also be held on the sidelines of the conference.
The event will begin with an evening welcome reception, followed by a keynote address and opening dinner.
A series of plenary sessions will be held tomorrow, discussing topics such as the US and the regional balance of power, energy and regional security, inter-community relations and sectarian politics.
On the final day, delegates will address territorial integrity, borders and regional security, Iraq and a framework for regional security.
"We are bringing together all the policy and decision-makers specifically concerned with the Gulf," said Mr Allworthy.
"They do not have any specific goals, they come to conduct bilateral business with their counterparts in and outside the region.
"The whole aim is to establish an institution where they can come and discuss the issues of the moment and conduct real business."
Meanwhile, IISS officials revealed that Bahrain has signed a deal to host the event every year until 2011.
