Naif cautions against financial crisis rumors

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“Higher authorities have approved Saudi Arabia’s accession to the center,” he told the meeting.

The ministers approved the basic law of the center that operates under the tutelage of the United Nations. The law will be submitted to the GCC summit in Muscat next month for endorsement.

Prince Naif cautioned GCC citizens against rumors about the impact of global financial crisis on the member countries. “We are sure our citizens will not be carried away by such rumors and that their confidence in national economies will not be shaken,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted Prince Naif as saying.

He underscored the economic, social and political stability of the Gulf states. “We have to work together for protecting this security and stability,” he said, and called for greater cooperation and coordination among GCC security agencies.

Qatari Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani stressed the need for confronting recent developments that threaten the security of countries in the region, including terrorism, maritime piracy and drug trafficking.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Prince Naif said the ministers focused on how to protect the security of GCC citizens. He said all GCC countries except Kuwait had taken measures to facilitate travel of their citizens between the member countries using smart ID cards. “Kuwait will join this program early next year,” he added.

GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah said the meeting had discussed the latest regional and global security developments and agreed to strengthen cooperation and coordination.

Bahrain’s Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa presented a proposal to study global crises from a security perspective. “The GCC Secretariat will study along with the interior ministries the effect of global crises on the security of the member states,” Al-Attiyah said, adding that the ministers have assigned their deputies to conduct a strategic study on the security impact.

Al-Attiyah said the GCC summit, which is scheduled to take place in the Omani capital on Dec. 29, would discuss the GCC monetary union and monetary council. “At this stage a unified GCC currency is essential,” he added.

Sheikh Rashid emphasized the need to strengthen border security and combat cross-border smuggling, infiltration, illegal immigration and drug trafficking. “The GCC states should give top priority to stop these security threats,” he told the meeting.

Sheikh Rashid said the second Bahrain security forum and exhibition, which will be held on Feb. 24-25, will focus on border security. “An exhibition on border security will be staged on the sidelines of the forum,” he said.

He stressed the need for promoting cooperation between GCC Civil Defense forces to confront natural calamities.

 

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