Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — The Gulf Cooperation Council has been examining a
proposal to establish a regional police force.

Officials said the GCC would receive a plan for a regional police force
to bolster security throughout the Gulf. They said the force would be
similar to law enforcement organizations in Asia and Europe.

“This will help strengthen our security system and boost our capability
to combat crimes and promote coordination among security bodies,”
Bahraini Interior Minister Rashid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting of GCC interior ministers in
the United Arab Emirates on Dec. 7. Rashid said virtually all GCC states
were facing transnational threats that required close security cooperation.

“What has happened requires upgrading procedures through the security
cooperation agreement signed by the GCC member states,” Rashid said.

GCC interior ministers have approved in principle the establishment of a
regional police agency. Officials said the GCC would also establish a
permanent security committee to track regional threats and draft responses.

“The ministers emphasized the importance of modernization and
development of the security accord between GCC states to keep abreast of
developments,” a GCC statement said.

In November, Bahrain and Qatar cooperated to foil an alleged
Iranian-backed insurgency cell that planned to bomb critical facilities
around Manama. Officials said Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also played a role in
the investigation.

Officials said the GCC has increased security cooperation in several
areas, including the fight against illegal drugs and money-laundering. They
cited Saudi efforts to prevent drug trafficking as well as cooperation in
preventing illegal migration.

“We have to increase the activation of mechanisms of cooperation and
coordination among us to face these situations and challenges,” Saudi Deputy
Interior Minister Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz said.

  Gulf Cooperation Council, Gulf states weighing plan for regional police force, Manama, Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Qatar, Rashid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa