Manama Dialogue HRH Prince Muqrin Keynote

Address by HRH Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chief of General Intelligence, Saudi Arabia
To the 3rd IISS Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue
Friday 9 December 2006

In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful

Your Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, The Crown Prince, the Commander in Chief of the Defence Force in the Kingdom of Bahrain,

Your Highness, Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, I would present many thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Essa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain,

And also to His Royal Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, for the hospitality and the excellent organizing of the meeting. We wish prosperity and success to this auspicious gathering to achieve the anticipated goals for the good of our countries.

Your Highness, Your Excellency,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour, in this blessed day, to be one of the participants in this important meeting which is concerned in the security of the Gulf Region. Such security represents a vital and strategic dimension for the whole World. This meeting aims at discussing the requirements and the focal points of security and stability in this region in order to achieve its security and guarantee its solidarity and sovereignty.

We all agree that the Gulf security has become an important component for the regional and international security. Therefore, we have serious attempts to create the formula for achieving this strategic goal in a balanced manner that ensures its efficiency and sustainability. However, there are several obstacles against achieving this goal in the manner as it is fully hoped. Identifying and solving such obstacles is an important issue.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The fact that Israel is having nuclear weapons is the most dangerous threat against the Gulf security for both the near and the middle future. Consequently, some countries in the region took part in the competition for having nuclear weapons, as this is currently witnessed. It may be unanimously agreed that the spread of mass destruction weapons in the region will make the security issues more complicated in the whole region. It will rather give the right for the countries in the region to adopt policies and to make alliances with the countries of nuclear technology. It will also stimulate moderate countries in the region which adopts policies for eliminating mass destruction weapons, to make nuclear programs (whether concealed or declared) aiming at creating military balance in the region in order to defend their interests, gains and beliefs.

We believe that most of the problems in the region, their consequences of political attitudes and the increase of the terrorists’ acts, are closely related to the Middle East’s first issue, the Palestinian issue which will have a constant impact in the whole region since it has serious effects upon the international security and stability. This is in case this issue remains unsolved.

In view of the aforesaid, the international powers, that are concerned in this issue, are asked to perform there role impartially so as to find suitable solutions that would create peaceful coexistence among the countries in the region including Israel. Such coexistence should be based upon justice and equality in accordance with the Arabian Peace Initiative adopted in Beirut Summit in 2002. This will guarantee a fair solution for the Arab – Israeli conflict.

Instability in Iraq may lead to an abominable sectarian semi-war as it has become an area that attracts terrorists. This may affect security and stability in the other Gulf countries. So, cooperation among all of us is very important in order to help Iraq by non-interference in its internal affairs. There is no question that the continuity of the foreign existence in the region, including Iraq, will give a push for instability, and will mainly contribute to create terrorists there.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The issue of having more and more doctrines and sects in the Gulf communities, and the tendency of some of these communities to use violence and extremism, are very serious factors that affect the security and stability of the region. Therefore, we all agree that the regional security requirements in the Gulf should be based upon factors that take into consideration the sectarian structure of the Gulf communities. The aim of this is to create one political point of view, and one set of social structure that ensure security and solidarity for the region. For this end, ideological discrepancies should be set aside because they create further discrepancies in regard to principles, and political views. It is also important to achieve what is called (Cooperative Security) to achieve security and stability for our gulf communities.

Other factors of threat against security in our region are the issue of non-employment, and the foreign labours. Non-employment in the Gulf countries is in constant increase. It is a factor of instability that affects the security of the region’s countries. As the number of the untrained foreign labours who enter legally to our countries is getting more and more, in addition to such labours who enter illegally, then there will be serious economic, political, security and social effects. Illegal labours make labour camps in the gulf countries with the purpose of getting illegal profits. So, if this problem is not solved by the cooperation of the countries of origin of those labours, this will aggravate the security and social problems and the damages are to be incurred by the countries of the region, especially, the Gulf countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Finally, I would thank you, and wish all success and prosperity for everybody in their pursuit for our countries’ security and stability.

Thank you.

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