The Forum is following on the important achievements of the first such gathering which took place in Bahrain in November 2007, and is designed to become the premier security forum in the region, bringing together a unique blend of politicians, industry leaders, experts and academics to exchange views on the most pressing global and homeland security challenges of the day. The Forum is the brainchild of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, but has received support and encouragement from many other governments and institutions, both within the region and in Europe, Asia and North America.
Marking the conclusion of this agreement, RUSI Director, Professor Michael Clarke, and RUSI Director of International Security Studies, Dr Jonathan Eyal, were present in Manama to inaugurate the launch of this important initiative between Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior and RUSI.
Just last week, Major-General Abdul Latif Rashid Al Zayani, the Chief of Public Security of the Kingdom of Bahrain, visited RUSI’s London Headquarters and delivered a keynote speech at the ‘Science and Technology for Homeland Security and Resilience’ Conference on 25 June 2008. At this event, RUSI’s Chairman, Sir Paul Lever, expressed the Institute’s privilege to welcome Major-General Al Zayani and his delegation to London, adding that RUSI was proud to be partnering with Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior in this important endeavour.
Sir Paul noted that “Bahrain’s initiative represents a significant contribution to the debate on homeland and global security in the Middle East and around the world”.
Today’s event marks the official launch of the Bahrain Global and Homeland Forum and Exhibition 2009. The Ministry of Interior is particularly pleased to be working with RUSI, which was founded in 1831 at the initiative of the Duke of Wellington, and is the oldest surviving institute of its kind in the world. It is an independent think-tank for defence and security, and embodies nearly two centuries of forward thinking, free discussion and careful reflection on defence and security matters.
Further information on the Bahrain Global and Homeland Security Forum and Exhibition 2009 will be released in the summer, and registration for participants is scheduled to commence in September 2008.
