MANAMA: The maritime and aviation security of Middle East region serve as key to the global peace, stability and prosperity.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa in his opening remarks at the Warsaw Process Working Group meeting on Maritime and Aviation Security being held in Bahrain said in February this year the Group met in Warsaw to deliberate upon many challenges the Middle Eastern countries face with regards to security and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
The minimum outcome of meetings and works held in Warsaw was a decision to further explore the possible co-operation among the working groups on broad spectrum of topics in future and Bahrain’s meeting was a part of those collective efforts.
The United States, Bahrain, and Poland are co-hosting the Warsaw Ministerial Maritime and Aviation Security Working Group, in Manama, Bahrain, fulfilling a commitment made at the Ministerial to Advance Peace and Security in the Middle East in February 2019 in Warsaw, Poland.
Referring to growing security concerns following attacks on oil processing facilities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HE the Foreign Minister said the missile and drone attacks were a blatant aggression and in total disregard to the peace, security and prosperity world.
The recent attacks, the Minister added, were the continuation of the attacks on the commercial shipping vessels which restricts the safe movement of the commercial lines passing through the regional waters.
Such acts are in total negation of the international laws and agreements and these actions jeopardize the commercial activities among closely linked global community and such aggression must be addressed.
“We must take a collectively stand and condemn these acts and steps must be taken to protect the nations from the non-state actors and terrorist groups that conduct such attacks aiming at destabilizing the global peace and smooth commercial activities,” the Minister said.
“We must also work collectively to stop the proliferation of the WMDs and association technologies and deliveries. Bahrain is among over 100 countries that are part of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) launched in 2003. The treaty aims at stopping the flow of WMDs, missiles and other such technologies through maritime or aviation borders.”
“Bahrain with the help of the United States and friends is planning to host a major meet in the first half 2020 as part of reinforcing the Kingdom’s to the basis of the PSI and explore the ways and means to make this world peaceful.”
The United States is committed to maintaining maritime and aviation security in the region and promoting steps to interdict and prevent illicit weapons of mass destruction-related shipments, the US State Department in a statement said.
Eliot Kang, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, head of the US delegation addressed the Group.
“The working group meeting in Manama is one of seven working groups that were announced following the Ministerial to Advance Peace and Security in the Middle East in February 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. Working groups on cybersecurity and human rights met earlier in October.”
