I welcome you to Doha and hope that this conference provides the opportunity to discuss the means of realizing the security and stability that are necessary for the comprehensive development and progress for the common benefit of all.

      The Gulf region has been for a period that is not short the focus of attention of the world big powers in the East and the West, because they regarded their control of the region basic to the realization of their international interests.

      The Gulf region, which is located in the heart of the Middle East and forms a vital part of the Arab world, is neighbouring central and southern Asia as well as East Africa. What added to its strategic importance is the fact that it is a reservoir for the largest proven oil and gas reserves in the world, both of which are the main sources of energy needed by the industrial world. Hence, dealing with the region in the past and at present has been one of the branches of the concept of world security, politically and economically, and hence an area for the big powers vital interests.

      It is necessary to recall, in this context, some objective constants. First of all, I would like to stress that political security cannot be realized without economic security. Moreover, the transformations taking place in the world today and the conflicts they involve, directly affect the Gulf region in particular due to the inter locking of international interests.

      The Gulf region today faces threats and challenges that cannot be underestimated. The Arab Gulf states witness, in general, political and social phenomena that led to the intensification of extremism, especially among the youth. Moreover, the prevalent domestic conditions drive many citizens in the area to adopt this course because of the shortcomings in political organization, governmental administration and ways of addressing economic and social crises. These challenges are intensified by the fact that the internal conditions are not secure of external intervention and are being affected by the crises suffered by the Middle East region in general. That is why we think that the Gulf countries have to resolve a number of issues which actually represent realistic inlets for internal threats and challenges.

      We have to pursue the course of political, economic and social reforms in the area, while promoting popular participation in the political process, both in decision-making and follow-up of the implementation of decisions. The state must have constitutional institutions, which function democratically. The Gulf states have embarked on making political reforms of varying levels after it has been realized that internal stability and transparency in the way of running the country are the real guarantee for security and maintaining stability in the region.

      In this respect, I would like to bring to your notice that we in the State of Qatar and ever since 1995, and thanks to the wise policy of His Highness the Amir, have opted to build a modern state on popular participation as a base of rule through constitutional institutions, the rule of law and the provision of all conditions favourable for the overall development that secures all elements of raising the quality of life in our country.

      Moreover, efforts must be made to settle the differences between the countries of the region via peaceful means in a final and satisfactory way so as to eliminate all hotbeds of tension.

      Finally, at least formulas of cooperation and integration of Gulf armed forces should be considered in order to secure the means of defending the region’s peace and security.

      We maintain that the security of the Gulf region is also linked to the regional security. Hence the vital importance of arriving at a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of the Palestinian question and the Arab-Israeli conflict in general, and the normalization of the situation in Iraq.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

      Consolidating stability in the region in order to furnish the means capable of achieving comprehensive development undoubtedly requires protection of the region against external threats. The facts characterizing the conditions of the Gulf countries and the circumstances through which these countries passed in the last two decades make it imperative to study the actual and potential threats, and cooperation with the influential parties to fend off such threats. Such course of cooperation with the NATO should rest on the basis of reciprocal respect and not on imposition and domination, so that the mutual benefit of the two sides be realized in a complex and sensitive period in international relations.