Interior Minister slams blatant Iranian interference

Algiers, Mar. 7 (BNA): Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa led Bahrain’s delegation to the 35th session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council in Algeria on Wednesday. On the occasion he delivered the following speech: I am happy to express my thanks and gratitude to Honourable Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for patronising the opening of the session. Thanks also to the head of the meeting, Algerian Minister of Interior, Local Communities and Urban Planning Noureddine Badawi, for excellent hospitality. I also congratulate His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif Al Saud for his appointment as Honorary President of the Arab Interior Ministers Council and wish him all the best and every success. I also congratulate my brothers the ministers attending this meeting and wish them all the best in serving their countries and maintaining stability in the Arab Nation. I also thank my brother, Council Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Komen and the staff of the General Secretariat for organising the meeting. I also appreciate those attending the meeting. The meeting shows the Arab leaders’ interest and determination to achieve security and stability despite serious challenges. As you know, today we face ever-increasing forms of organised crimes committed through innovative methods, in addition to the dangerous development of cross-border crimes, especially in an environment that aids the spread of extremism. This makes terrorism a common threat to people in various areas in the world. I mean both "east and west of the earth". "Your brothers security personnel in the Kingdom of Bahrain constantly deal with the systematic Iranian interference that targets our internal security and stability. Today, Iran has become a place of shelter for criminals and fugitives. The country breaks all international conventions and norms and has no commitment to the Interpol or its Red Notices. It has set itself above the law and offers its land and camps to train terrorists and traffic in weapons and explosives. This has been documented based on solid evidence. The Iranian interference in our internal affairs takes various forms, such as: Investments are made to provide cash in Bahrain to promote its power through individuals or organisations, or to give it to those committing terrorist acts. The Iranian schools work to promote the Persian culture and lay the groundwork for the youth who believe in the principles of the Khomeini Revolution and the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (Wilayat al-Faqih) and thus remain loyal to Iran. The culture of sectarianism and extremism is spread on the excuse of protecting Shiites against the spirit of nationalism through the control of charity organisations and religious centres (Hawzat). This creates a base of the extremists loyal to the Iranian leadership and includes all sections of society, men and women, politicians, religious scholars, capitalists, professionals, writers and media personalities. Iran had wanted to ignite a sectarian crisis but by the grace of God we didn’t give it any opportunity to achieve its dangerous goal though their plots to achieve their aims are long-term ones. We have dealt with their interference at various levels through the solidarity and cooperation of all. We have today an agenda full of issues related to security plans and strategies that determine the joint Arab security work, including the Arab Security Agreement project submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Thank you for approving the project. I wish the meeting success. Peace, mercy and blessings of God. The council praised the security authorities’ role in foiling a number of terrorist plots and eliminating terrorist groups and cells with foreign links, operating with the aim of disturbing the security and stability of the Arab nation. The council also affirmed cooperation to combat terrorist activities and choke the terrorists’ intellectual and financial resources. The Arab Interior Ministers stressed the importance of a unified stand to face security-related challenges and extremism that lead to terror on the social media. On the sidelines of the meeting, Lt. Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa met HRH the Saudi Interior Minister and congratulated him for his appointment as the council’s honorary president of the council in recognition of his remarkable role in supporting security cooperation and wished him the best. The meeting also reviewed security cooperation and coordination and issues of common interest. He also met Lt-Gen. Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, as part of security cooperation between the two brotherly countries. They discussed cooperation to improve police operations as well as issues of common interest. He also met his Lebanese counterpart Nouhad Machnouk and appreciated the keenness of the two countries to continue to develop cooperation in facing regional and international security challenges, mainly terrorism. He also met Jordanian Interior Minister Samir Mubaid to discuss security cooperation and Iraqi Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji to discuss security issues of common interest. Lt-Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa was accompanied by the Bahraini Ambassador to Algeria, the undersecretary and other MOI officials. (MOI)