Iran nuclear accord 'must not harm Gulf'

Manama, November 29, 2013

By Sandeep Singh Grewal

Gulf Interior Ministers have demanded a detailed explanation from the P5+1 countries following an interim agreement with Iran to curb its controversial nuclear programme and stated that it should not have a "negative effect" on the Gulf.

The historical deal between the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany and the Persian state was approved in Geneva last Sunday.

But Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa yesterday said it should not have a "negative effect" on the Gulf, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"We would like to hear from these countries regarding the Geneva agreement in order to explain the conditions clearly to create more regional stability," he said during his opening remarks at the 32nd GCC Interior Ministers' meeting hosted by Bahrain.

"It should not be against any GCC country as we in Bahrain face the threat of foreign interference. However, we have succeeded in overcoming our challenges because of national will and awareness among Bahrainis to control the situation," he added.

Shaikh Rashid pointed out that Bahrain's global image had been harmed by false reporting since the 2011 unrest. "The protection of lives and property is a national security responsibility that cannot be ignored," he said.

"What was the world expecting when our security and stability were at risk? What occurred was an understandable response from a country that had to protect itself and its people," he noted.

"We value the support and backing of all GCC countries," stated Shaikh Rashid.

"In dealing with the situation in our country, we have faced bias from some organisations and the media who manipulate the concepts of human rights and freedom of expression to harm our reputation internationally," he noted.

"They have ignored our achievements in the protection of the rights, freedoms and dignity of the people," he added.

Shaikh Rashid also called for the activation of all security agreements between the six GCC states to further enhance co-operation. "This will result in a comprehensive system for security in the region," he said.

GCC secretary-general Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani, who also attended the meeting, said the "risk and challenges" faced by the six Gulf states were similar.

"We have set up a GCC disaster management centre in Kuwait that will act as an early warning system for any emergencies in the region," he added. -TradeArabia News Service