TUNIS, 14 January 2003 — Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday condemned the move to incriminate the whole Arab nation for the mistakes committed by certain individuals.
“We are advocates of peace and security and we’ll not accept any argument that suggests anything otherwise,” he stated.
Addressing a meeting of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers here, Prince Naif reminded the ministers of their great responsibility in a fast changing world where enmity toward the Arab nation is on the rise.
“We have become guilty in the eyes of others as a nation and individuals, guilty unless proven otherwise. We are being tried by the international media day and night without being given the chance to state the facts,” he said.
Earlier in his inaugural address, Tunisian President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali emphasized the need to solve the Iraqi-US standoff peacefully.
He also called for international protection to be given to the Palestinians, who are reeling under Israeli aggression.
Prince Naif stressed the importance of developing a spirit of cooperation between security personnel and citizens in the Arab world.
“Each party should understand the importance of the other in safeguarding security,” he explained.
The Saudi minister urged the meeting to discuss ways of preventing electronic crimes, including the Internet. The meeting should also take up the issue of corruption, he added.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival, Prince Naif emphasized the importance of a joint meeting between Arab interior and information ministers here on Wednesday.
“This joint meeting is not aimed at putting more controls on Arab media. The goal is to reach an agreement for the benefit of the Ummah in this sensitive period,” he said.
“We have to talk to the world with the language of reasoning and activate our media,” he said. “We want that the Arab media take a united stand internally and externally,” he said.
Prince Naif hoped that the meeting would end with an agreement between Arab media and security agencies to work together for the benefit of the Arab world.
Also yesterday, Prince Naif opened the new headquarters of the secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council in Tunis. He presented a commemorative gift to Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa on the occasion for donating the money required for furnishing the headquarters.
The gift was received by Sheikh Hamad ibn Nasir, Qatari state minister for internal affairs. Prince Naif also distributed commemorative plaques to the ministers.
