Interior Minister leads Bahrain delegation to GCC meeting

Doha, Nov. 25 (BNA): Deputy Qatari Amir Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani received today the GCC Interior Ministers on the occasion of their 34th meeting. The Interior Ministers lauded the efforts of Qatari Amir Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Chairman of the current session of the Supreme GCC Council, in reinforcing GCC cooperation. Interior Minister Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa led Bahrain’s delegation to the meeting. He praised joint GCC security achievements, stressing the need to press ahead with security integration among the member states in light of the current regional challenges. He also underlined the importance of cooperation between the security bodies and citizens in fostering stability and security. The GCC Interior Minister discussed many issues pertaining to the security field and ways of enhancing cooperation to overcome regional challenges and deter terrorism. They stressed the importance of joint work as a bulwark to maintain security and stability and preserve hard-won gains. In a statement after the meeting, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said the GCC Interior Ministers had signed an agreement on having the Gulf Police headquarters in the UAE. He added they were also briefed about a number of reports referred to them by the GCC Interior Ministry Undersecretaries on security-related issues. The GCC Interior Ministers affirmed resolve to fight terrorism and root it out to protect the Gulf community from its repercussions. They praised the advanced level of cooperation between the GCC security bodies in busting terror cells and fighting the terrorist ideology. They also condemned the terrorist attacks by the Islamic State (IS) in Egypt, Lebanon, France, Turkey, Mali and Tunisia, voicing support for the international counter-terrorism efforts.