Meeting of Chiefs of Arab Intelligence Forum

Peace be upon you, may Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you all,
I welcome you in your second homeland, Egypt, which always receives you as dear brothers to our hearts and as partners in their countries’ pathway toward security and stability, amidst the turbulences and events that have been plaguing our Arab region for over a decade.

I would also like to thank you all and express appreciation for your efforts to enhance prospects of cooperation among our agencies and enrich the works of the Arab Intelligence Forum ever since its establishment. It is a unique forum in our region, boosting joint Arab action in the areas of security and information. This was embodied in initiatives launched by the forum’s members during the current year of joint security action and exchanges of assessment, within a framework of full transparency regarding the sources of threats besetting our region.

Having said that, allow me to underscore our peoples’ full confidence in and high hopes for our agencies’ capabilities and efforts to protect and preserve the sovereignty, independence, cohesion, territorial integrity, resources and wealth of our Arab world. Honorable attendees, your extraordinary meeting today comes to discuss the possible repercussions of the Afghan crisis, solidifying the principle of the responsibility to counter threats, within the framework of joint Arab action under the umbrella of the Arab Intelligence Forum. I am sending a message to the international community, confirming the unity of our agencies and institutions to coordinate visions and unify concepts with regard to the various threats, particularly in light of what reality has reflected and proven by history in our region that there is no better way than unity to comprehensively address the challenges afflicting our region.

Within this framework, I would like to point out that Egypt was at the forefront of world countries that have suffered from the spread of the scourge of the ugly terrorism, one of the main causes of which was the international community’s inability to adopt a comprehensive approach while addressing regional and international crises, either in Palestine, Afghanistan, or Iraq, or recent events that have taken place and are still underway in the Arab world in Libya, Syria and Yemen. These are crises that have no solutions except by ending foreign interference in the affairs of the Arab region as well as the respect of the decisions and will of the peoples and the sovereignty of the nation-state and its institutions, which would end the terrorist and “takfiri” organizations’ exploitation of these crises and their repercussions.

Gentlemen, Chiefs of Intelligence Service Agencies of the Arab Intelligence Forum,
The recent developments on the Afghan arena must sound the alarm. They should be dealt-with with the highest degrees of vigilance and seriousness so that we do not go back to the time when everybody overlooked what happened following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. They left behind a safe haven for terrorists to plan, train and establish a state within a state, later directing their menace toward our homeland and the Western civilization alike. Therefore, I invite you all to employ your agencies’ capabilities and focus your efforts on closely and meticulously following up developments in Afghanistan and their possible repercussions on our Arab nation, in order not to allow terrorist organizations to resume their activities or find safe haven for themselves to recruit and train more elements and freely plan for terrorist operations. This comes in addition to the need to deal with the suffering of the Afghan people as a result of the current living conditions, which could result in a new wave of immigration and asylum seeking that is hard for the region to accommodate. Not far from Afghanistan, and as it is a dear part to the hearts of all of us, Egypt did not and will not spare any effort to help the brothers in Libya bring their country to safety by moving on the path of a comprehensive political solution that encompasses binding steps and measures based on uniting the military institution, the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries, ending the phenomenon of armed militias and holding simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on their set dates.

Honorable Attendees,
I cannot conclude my speech without expressing my genuine wishes and full support to Sudan to overcome the current difficulties it is facing and to realize security, stability and prosperity for its great people.

I would also not miss reiterating Egypt’s persistent efforts in support of the Palestinian cause, which is the priority and central Arab issue, with the aim of firming up the ceasefire and re-launching peace efforts in line with the resolutions of international legitimacy, the Arab peace initiative and the two-state solution in order to establish an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is in addition to our tireless efforts to bring the Palestinian brothers closer together and realize their reconciliation so as to preserve the Palestinian people’s ability to restore their rights through their unity and solidarity.

Gentlemen, Chiefs of Intelligence Service Agencies of the Arab Intelligence Forum,
You are facing a day of hard work. I pray Allah the Almighty to bless you and grant you success. I hope this day will witness the launch and completion of our joint cooperation for the benefit of our Arab nation and peoples. I would like to ask you to convey to my brothers, their Majesties, Excellences and Highnesses, the leaders of your countries my deepest regards, appreciation and respect.

May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all