Kuwaiti Defence Minister Calls for Collective Efforts to Protect Regional Security

KUWAIT CITY, November 11, 2010 - Speaking at the ninth meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint
Defence Council, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh
Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaber_Al-Mubarak_Al-Hamad_Al-Sabah), called on
the member nations to commit to the Peninsula Shield Force to prepare for
military challenges facing the Arabian Gulf nations.

Sheikh Jaber, the host of the conference of the six countries that in
addition to Kuwait include Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), told his fellow ministers that the conference would give
priority to the security of the GCC (www.gcc-sg.org/eng/index.php)
against external threats because "contiguous vigilance" and a uniform
military strategy was imperative.

In his address (
www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2124024&Language=en
), Sheikh Jaber said the terrorists and sabotage acts in the region, coupled
with military confrontations in neighboring and nearby countries and the
unstable conditions surrounding the Gulf countries require "our collective
regimes and to develop them to honor our supreme strategic objectives in a
drive to guarantee the security and prosperity of the Gulf countries."

Sheikh Jaber extended an invitation to GCC countries to send "symbolic
military units" of the countries that participated in the 1991 war to
liberate Kuwait, and to take part in February's celebrations marking the 20th
anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait.

Among other issues discussed at the conference were continuing GCC
cooperation on defence issues, the importance of applying the defence
strategy to the GCC countries, and a satisfaction in the progress of GCC
military cooperation and joint defence. The Council also renewed its support
of Bahrain (
www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2124040&Language=en
) in the face of any threats to its security, safety and stability.

The GCC defense ministers expressed gratitude to His Highness the Kuwaiti
Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (www.da.gov.kw/eng/) for
his constant support of the process of joint defence and to Sheikh Jaber for
his efforts to ensure the success of the ninth session.

The outcome of the conference will be referred to the GCC summit held in
Abu Dhabi, UAE early next month. The next session of the Joint Defence
Council will be in the UAE next year.

This has been issued by Al Madar. For more information, visit
www.almadar-kw.com/

Hani Megahed, +965-2266-6008