Manama: Major Arab countries should be involved in solving the region’s problems, Bahrain’s foreign minister has said.
Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Jordan and Egypt, as well other ‘modern’ states could help to spread peace and establish security, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said.
The GCC, established in 1981, comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Iraq will hopefully re-emerge as a strong nation in the Arab world because it is one of the major countries and active actors in the region, and its strength, unity and stability are essential elements in the stability of the whole region, the minister said as he addressed the Manama Dialogue, an international security conference held annually in the Bahraini capital.
Shaikh Khalid said that the 37th GCC Summit held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Bahrain was an important stage in the progress of joint work.
Its outcomes will give a strong impetus to GCC countries to move forward towards wider and closer cooperation in the defense and security fields, as well as further economic integration.
In his speech, Shaikh Khalid lauded the outcome of the meeting on Wednesday between the GCC leaders and British Prime Minister Theresa May who was making her first visit to the region since she moved into Downing Street in July.
May made history by becoming the first British Prime Minister and the first woman to attend a GCC summit.
The meeting affirmed the importance of bolstering the strong historic relations between the GCC and the UK that stretch over 200 years and expressed a shared keenness to create further opportunities for economic and security cooperation for the interest of both sides, Shaikh Khalid said.
The foreign minister added that Bahrain and the other GCC countries were keen on their international partnerships and alliances with the United States, the United Kingdom and friendly countries and regional and international organizations.
These partnerships will continue to serve the interests of all parties, as well as strengthen the international role of the GCC as an active partner to achieve security, peace and stability in the region and the world, he said.
However, Shaikh Khalid criticised the role of Iran in undermining the security and stability of the region, pointing out that Tehran has been playing this dangerous role for more than 30 years, exploiting every conflict in the region in an effort to extend its influence.
Iran also supported terrorism in the region and the formation of proxy armies in the Arab states to undermine security and stability, and used Wilayat Al Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) to get followers across the world, he said.
Good relations cannot be built with Iran unless it drastically changes its policies and cooperates transparently and seriously with the countries of the region, the minister added.
