Tunisian President Kais Saied today received Arab Interior Ministers on the side-lines of the 40th session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council in Tunisia.
The Tunisian President welcomed the Arab officials, highlighting the importance of those meetings in reinforcing regional security cooperation and joint Arab work. He wished the session every success.
Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, chaired Bahrain’s delegation in the session’s meeting, presided over by the Palestinian Interior Minister General Ziad Hab al-Reeh led.
During the session, the Interior Minister delivered the following speech:
“In the beginning, I would like to express thanks and appreciation to the honourable Tunisian President Kais Saied for inaugurating the session. I would also like to thank my brother Tunisian Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine for his hospitality and my brother, Omani Interior Minister Hamoud Bin Faisal Albusaidi, for his efforts while chairing the previous session of the council. I also thank the Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, Dr Mohammad bin Ali Kuman and all the council’s employees for their organisational efforts.
Your Highnesses and Excellencies, I start my speech today by praying for the souls of the earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye to rest in peace, patience for their loved ones and speedy recovery for the injured. This disaster created a humanitarian stand to provide assistance to various countries. Bahrain was a pioneer as per the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, through sending search and rescue teams from the National Guard of the Bahrain Defence Force and the formation of a national committee to support the victims and send urgent assistance shipments. This case requires us to reinforce our civil protection capabilities through joint training and exchange of expertise to promote field coordination in facing crises and reducing their effects and negative repercussions to help each other achieve the required sustainability.
Your Highnesses and Excellencies, during the last decade, the security operations have witnessed the danger of emerging crimes that affected civil peace and stability and caused new challenges and threats through the surfacing of many crimes, mainly cyber and digital crimes. They represent an economic challenge. Cyber-attacks are considered a threat to national security and e-platforms.
They are targeting children and youth. In addition to the emergence of different types of drones to attack vital interests.
I want to highlight that dealing with security threats isn’t limited to combating efforts and security responses but requires proactive procedures to face, prevent or limit these threats through the drafting of laws to tackle challenges and set firm technical regulations to control the use of electronic devices, in addition to reinforcing international consensus to maintain the security of societies. Within this context, the Interior Ministry has formed the Child Protection Cyberspace Unit to implement the National Cybersecurity Strategy related to children’s protection.
Your highnesses and excellencies, I will conclude my speech by highlighting that protecting the security and safety of communities is a security, humanitarian and ethical duty that requires solidarity and security efforts. I assert that one of the primary dimensions of protecting the security and general order in Arab societies is safeguarding Arab values and traditions that unite us. The strength of the community comes from the strength of the family.
In any case, we are open to the world, which respects our adherence to these traditions. I wish for our meeting, success for the best of our nations and the security of their peoples, and peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.
Their Highnesses and Excellencies Arab Interior Minister reviewed topics on the agenda and proposed projects.
The meeting approved the report of the Secretariat General and a new plan to implement the Arab strategy to combat terrorism. It also approved a proposal by Saudi Arabia to form a team to exchange information about narcotics and psychotropic substances. The Council also decided to strengthen its efforts in confronting cybercrime, promote human rights in security work, and strengthen cooperation.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Interior Minister held a series of meetings with various Arab Interior Ministers. He met His Highness United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt-General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They hailed the historical and brotherly ties between the two countries.
He also met Egyptian Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik, with whom he reviewed security topics to promote cooperation and coordination.
The Interior Minister also met the Lebanese Interior and Municipalities Minister, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, with whom he reviewed security cooperation and coordination. In addition, he met the Yemeni Interior Minister, Major-General Ibrahim Ali Haidan and discussed cooperation and security topics.
The Interior Minister was accompanied by a delegation that included Bahrain’s Ambassador to Tunisia and Interior Ministry’s officials.
Source: Bahrain News Agency