Bahrain and Saudi Interior Ministers Chair Fifth Meeting of Joint Coordination Council Security Committee
Manama, October 8 (KUNA) -- Bahraini Interior Minister Brigadier General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud chaired the fifth meeting of the security committee stemming from the Bahrain-Saudi Coordination Council, held today, Thursday, via video conferencing technology.
Bahrain’s official news agency (BNA) reported that the Bahraini Interior Minister affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s full solidarity with the leadership of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and its unwavering support for the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, to protect its sovereignty, security, and stability, and to defend its territory and civilian and vital facilities. This stance is rooted in the shared destiny and the deep historical and fraternal ties binding the two countries.
He strongly condemned and denounced the blatant terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist militia, which targeted Abha and King Khalid International airports yesterday. He expressed sincere condolences to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the families of the victims, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He expressed his hope that the fifth meeting of the security committee, under the Bahrain-Saudi Coordination Council chaired by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and his Bahraini counterpart Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, would constitute a constructive addition to the trajectory of security cooperation and coordination between the two fraternal countries. He hoped the meeting would contribute to enhancing cooperation prospects and achieving shared interests in maintaining security and stability.
He praised the role of security coordination between the two countries in addressing emerging regional developments and security challenges, emphasizing the importance of advancing further security initiatives to achieve comprehensive security integration between the two nations.
The Bahraini Interior Minister expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the members of the security working teams on both sides for their professional performance and sincere efforts, commending the security initiatives accomplished since the committee’s launch, as well as the advanced progress made in ongoing initiatives.
For his part, the Saudi Interior Minister praised the distinctive historical and fraternal relations between the two countries, affirming that the meeting aims to strengthen existing security cooperation and coordinate efforts in joint security fields. He highlighted the efforts made by the working teams on both sides to implement agreed-upon initiatives and to intensify efforts to complete them, wishing the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people continued security and stability.
During the committee meeting, several important security topics were discussed, building on accomplished initiatives to enhance performance in the face of security challenges and rapid changes in regional and international arenas. Among the completed initiatives was one to enhance cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. Other initiatives achieved advanced levels of implementation, including the application of a single-point system in each country and the facilitation of passenger crossing procedures via the King Fahd Causeway. It was agreed to launch the second phase and work on completing the third phase to further facilitate travel procedures. These initiatives also extend to enhancing cooperation in border security and drug trafficking prevention.
During the meeting, the mechanisms necessary to implement several initiatives aimed at enhancing security cooperation and coordination were discussed, and working teams were tasked with preparing a report detailing achievements over the past four years since the establishment of the Security Committee, to be submitted to the Bahrain-Saudi Coordination Council. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the results and accomplishments achieved within the framework of existing security cooperation ties, emphasizing the importance of continuing to strengthen security efforts to contribute to the security and stability of both countries. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Bahraini Minister of Interior and his Saudi counterpart signed the minutes of the fifth meeting of the Security Committee, commending the outcomes reached and the shared resolve to continue advancing the process of security cooperation and coordination between the two brotherly nations. (End) K.N.A./
