Joint GCC efforts are needed to end the bloodshed in Iraq, Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Interior, said here on Tuesday. Addressing the 10th consultative meeting of GCC interior ministers here, Prince Naif said the meeting comes amid global and regional changes which have huge implications on the security and stability of the region. The aggravation of security conditions in Iraq, he said, necessitates that the neighboring countries crystallize their stands in the interest of the unity and stability of Iraq and safety of its people. “They (the neighboring countries) need to realize the danger of instigating and antagonizing one party against another and its impact not only on the security of Iraq but on the security of the entire world,” he said. “This makes it inevitable for all of us to cooperate to avert the killing and destruction in Iraq,” Prince Naif said. If the grim situation in Iraq is allowed to continue, Prince Naif said, it will have an adverse impact on the Arab, regional and global peace. He stressed that the fast global and regional changes make it incumbent upon us to “review and discuss such issues within the mechanism of mutual security cooperation of our countries and directives of our leaders so as to fulfill the needs for our countries and people.” Earlier, the meeting began under the chairmanship of Saud Bin Ibrahim Al-Bosaeedi, the Interior Minister of Oman. Al-Bosaeedi gave a brief account on the achievements accomplished by the GCC interior ministers consultative meetings and sub-committees as well as the agenda of the meeting.
