Bahrain takes part in Proliferation Security Initiative Political Meeting

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Abdullah Abdullatif Abdullah, attended the Proliferation Security Initiative Political Meeting, held in Washington on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, under the chairmanship of the Assistant Secretary for International Security and Non-proliferation, Mr. Tomas M. Countryman.

The meeting reviewed the actual challenges and dangers induced by the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the arms threatening the world security and stability and noted the importance of not to allow these weapons to reach the terrorist groups which have become a main hazard for the international community.

The meeting also touched on the goals of the previous meeting which was held in 2013 and the achievements made by the member-states over the past two years in addition to the necessary arrangements for the 2018 summit which will be held in France.

In this context, Ambassador Abdullah affirmed the WMD-posed hazards to world security, mainly in the event they fall in the hands of terrorists, affirming that the countries of the region are facing substantial challenges not only because of WMD proliferation but also due to the spread of conventional arms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which caused a large number of casualties, injuries and huge property damage.

"The International community should not miss out these weapons, especially that some countries are providing them to the terrorist groups," he said.

The Initiative of Proliferation Security is a multilateral response to the challenges imposed by WMD proliferation through which the member states are seeking to coordinate their efforts in accordance with national legislations and the relevant international laws and norms.