“We will never give up our sovereignty and Arabism for the sake of which we have sacrificed,” the Minister asserted.
The Minister rejected Iran’s phony interference into the Kingdom of Bahrain’s internal affairs. The creation of a Gulf Union does not pose any threat against anybody and will definitely consecrate perpetual security and stability in the region, emphasized the Minister.
Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa in an exclusive interview published on (Akhbar Al-Khaleej) newspaper today also dismissed that “we do not remedy acts of terror by similar acts of terror but we encounter terrorist operations through law enforcement. We monitor activities of terror gangs around the clock and we have always been successful in foiling their plots as we use pre-emptive counter-terrorism operation tactics for this purpose.
The Minister said that the Ministry pursues suspects, publishes their names and portraits, arrested and brought some of them before a fair court trial.
The Minister said that the GCC leaders have endorsed the common GCC security convention during their latest consultative meeting. The agreement shall be signed by the GCC Interior Ministers in their upcoming meeting.
The Kingdom of Bahrain proposed the creation of the GCC Police Agency which proposal was welcomed by all GCC Interior Ministers and which is a studied step on the way to attain Gulf unity.
Regarding constitutional amendments ratified by the wise leadership of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa recently, the Minister described these modifications as essential and unprecedented as they emanate from concurrence of national dialogue and got the approval of MPs on behalf of their constituents and which conceded with Al-Wefaq society’s proposals during the second term of the legislative authority.
The Minister reiterated pride in our national sovereignty which we expect from every loyal citizen and that our national progressive march denotes to constantly preserve the principle of sovereignty which is undoubtedly a non-negotiable matter. The Minister accentuated that we cannot abandon our firm beliefs and the Kingdom’s assets for the sake of which we have sacrificed are the Kingdom’s Arabism and sovereignty.
Regarding joining into the Gulf Union, the Minister of Interior explained that this is not something new as it has been stipulated for in the GCC Articles of Association aimed to attaining the ultimate unity of the GCC countries and serves national interests, boosts security and stability and helps in surmounting challenges. The Minister reiterated that the GCC Union is the demand of GCC peoples and satisfies their aspirations in terms of dignified and secure living. In fact GCC peoples share the same language, culture, norms and traditions and mutual history which makes the need for a Gulf Union commensurate with such harmony although we can see some (political) union(s) has/have been formed despite diversity of language, culture, ethnic origins as the case with the European Union.
Regarding the Iranian position, the Minister of Interior said that Iran interferes in GCC countries internal affairs and relations which we vehemently reject because of Gulf Union will never pose any threat to anybody and would help perpetuate regional security and stability and promote the cause of peace and development on which Iran should be keen.
Regarding anticipated future developing of security agencies in the aftermath of local and regional developments in terms of unrest, Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa pointed out that efforts to develop and modernize the Ministry of Interior are ongoing and non-stop in order to keep abreast of latest developments. However, next plan constitutes a comprehensive vision of security in the light of incidents which took place in the Kingdom which necessitated revising and appraisal especially regarding BICI’s recommendations which come under the Ministry’s domain.
Regarding the role of Civil Defense versatility to counter potential disasters, the Minister confirmed readiness to overcome any repercussions or likely hazards from Iran’s nuclear plants.
Regarding a question whether the Minister has implemented BICI’s recommendations related to the Ministry’s domain, the Minister of Interior Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa pointed out that the Ministry has taken all necessary actions in order to implement all of BICI’s recommendations and that the Ministry has put in place an integrated action plan in order to develop policing and security profession up to highest international standards and that the Ministry has also implemented a series of reformative actions and steps aimed at raising the standard of policing in order to achieve an “equilibrium” between the role of the Police in maintain security and ensured human rights and sought assistance from world-class technical expertise and restructuring of some departments in the Ministry.
Regarding, tear gas used in disbanding unlicensed demonstrations, the Minister confirmed that the gas used does not pose health hazard.
“We will never accept any annoyance to people and that the sort of tear gas used is the same type used by other countries of the world which is non-toxic otherwise police personnel would suffer the most from tear gas because they could inhale tear gas but the type of “homemade” tear gas prepared and used by perpetrators contain “unknown chemical substances, made through unknown techniques and the scope of its dangers have not been verified yet”, according to the Minister.
Regarding complaints by some political activists who alleged that they were under threat, or banned from returning to the motherland, the Minister emphasized that such are false allegations as similar things take place on Bahraini territories and the perpetrators are never hunted if their actions fall under the freedom of expression allowable under the law. However, there are some activists abroad who have been issued court verdicts with charges of spreading false propaganda and misstatements or abuse of their motherland in which they live in democratic atmospheres and enjoy their rights and liberties as the law here is applicable to everybody without exception and the motherland embraces all of its offspring whether inside or abroad and they enjoy the right to live at home as long as they respect the law of the land and its institutions.