Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- Interior ministers of Iraq’s neighboring countries convened for their third meeting in Jeddah yesterday, chaired by Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz. Ministers of Jordan, Iran, Bahrain, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and Egypt were received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, at Al-Salam Palace where he was briefed on their progress and agenda, and wished them success in their endeavors, hoping for the restoration of security and stability to Iraq.

Prince Naif delivered a speech in which he emphasized the neighboring countries’ role and responsibility in making a united effort to remedy the lack of security in Iraq, out of shared humanitarian and religious values. Iraq’s internal tensions, death toll, violence and the growing terrorism that faces the whole Arab world is our responsibility in front of God, our conscience and in order to write the history that generations will continue to read after us, he said.

The meeting concluded with a mutual consensus to increase security on the borders by clamping down on forged passports and illegal activities, including smuggling into- and out of- Iraq. The Saudi Minister also emphasized the importance of fighting terrorism by exposing the activities of terrorist cells that threatens the stability and security of Iraq, killing innocent civilians, including women and children every day. It was agreed that a secretariat will be established in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to hold their regular meetings. Its foundation and development will be supervised over by the Iraqi interior ministry and it will be in charge of the preparation and follow up on the progress of the meetings and monitoring the progress of the proposed outcomes and decisions.