Gulf Forum 2009 holds first session

Riyadh, January 06, SPA -- The "Gulf-U.S. Relations after
Presidential Elections", the Gulf Forum 2009 held here today its
first session titled "American Policy and Gulf Security including
Iraq and Iran".

The session was presided over by Dr. Ellen Laipson, President of
Henry L. Stimson Center in the United States of America.
Prince Turki Al Faisal, President of King Faisal Center for Islamic
Studies and Research, the Ambassador of the United States of America
to the Kingdom Ford Fraker and the Executive Director of the
American-Arab Relations Council Dr. John Dock Antoni have
participated in this session.
In a key speech, Prince Turki delivered a speech in which he
stressed that security of the Gulf is not only a regional issue but
an international one due to its strategic, economic and financial
importance, calling for maintaining the security and stability of
this region.
He added that "the responsibility for maintaining security and
stability in the Gulf region lies first and foremost on the shoulders
of its countries and peoples since their first interest is to achieve
this strategic goal and they have to achieve their unity in all
areas, and under such difficult challenge, the unity of the countries
and the peoples of this region, boosting its defense force and
capabilities are a prerequisite to ensure the security of the
region".
Prince Turki al-Faisal aslo pointed out that Iran has to be more
positive in dealing with the issue of security of the Gulf as a
national interest for Iran and its people and that the issue of
security of the region is a collective responsibility all parties
have to shoulder.
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