JEDDAH, 19 October 2005 — The newly created National Security Council (NSC) will enjoy wide powers, including the right to declare emergency and war as well as to investigate security agencies if they are found negligent in fulfilling their duties, informed sources said, quoting NSC’s rules and regulations. The NSC, the first of its kind in the Arab world, has been given wide powers to deal with corruption and negligence of public duties.
According to the first article of the NSC laws and regulations, the council will work to protect the Kingdom’s political, economic, military, security and social interests. “It will also review internal and external situations having a direct bearing on national security,” the article stipulates.
King Abdullah is the chairman of the council while Crown Prince Sultan is its deputy chairman. Its members include the deputy commander of the National Guard, the ministers of the interior and foreign affairs, the head of the general intelligence and the NSC secretary-general. Elaph online newspaper yesterday carried some of NSC’s rules and regulations.
Article 3 states that the NSC will have the right to investigate and monitor all security agencies if they commit major violations or demonstrate negligence in duties or become involved in acts which threaten public security. The NSC will have political powers such as withdrawing ambassadors, reducing diplomatic representation and severing diplomatic relations. It will approve military strategies required for dealing with foreign threats.
The new body will meet regularly with at least two-thirds of its members attending. King Abdullah yesterday received Prince Bandar ibn Sultan, the newly appointed secretary-general of NSC and wished him success in his new position.
