Speaking about Gulf security means talking about different perspectives of the same concept , Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said here yesterday, citing current and future challenges. In a speech addressed at the evening session of Sixth Manama Dialogue titled "Dynamics of Security Challenges... A GCC Perspective", Sheikh Dr Mohammad said "the concept of Gulf security can be identified by three ranges; immediate, medium and long, as security
challenges may be political, economic or demographic.

All GCC countries, even before the inception of the council, steered an ethical, transparent and dynamic diplomacy, which drove us to deal with tensions with a unique manner," the Kuwaiti top diplomat noted, adding that of features of such diplomacy is recognizing risks coming from adopting aggressive ideologies, as GCC members believe that adopting such ideologies may attribute to the disruption of regional harmony, as it also instigates upheaval among neighbors.

The GCC diplomacy is also aware of the strategic location Gulf countries enjoy; as such feeling was fortified through buttressing relations among council members, Sheikh Dr Mohammad noted.

Amidst such growing responsibility, GCC countries began protecting their borders, as well as adjacent marine paths, and by following a responsible oil policy," he said.

Outcomes of this rational overall security policy could be identified through stability enjoyed by the GCC area despite rather unstable surroundings, he noted.

As for the medium-ranged challenge, Sheikh Dr Mohammad carried on to say, "economic challenges emerge as major ones, including the almost complete dependence on oil as a source of income, not to mention the ever changing international economic trends, the global financial downturn, turbulences that hit international food markets and the sharp fluctuations in oil prices.

Such setbacks represent a major strategic challenge for GCC countries on the medium range, which require efforts to be exerted in order to secure Gulf economies, he pointed out.

In order to face these challenges, GGC countries should speed up with the establishment of the common GCC market, so as to guarantee creating an economic environment capable of comprehending global economic upsets with less damage and cost.

The upcoming GCC summit in Kuwait is urged, more than ever, to focus on this perspective and follow short-termed plans to achieve its goals," he stressed. As for the demographic challenge, Sheikh Dr Mohammad said that such challenge is a long-term one, explaining "considering how much preoccupied we are as politicians, that caused such problem to distressfully amplify, and we (Gulf countries) haven't done much in terms of putting plans to address it, either on the near or far future.

Labor markets in the Gulf are witnessing a clear malfunction, with percentage of local working force declining in face of expatriates with 90 percent in the UAE, 62 percent in Bahrain, 65 percent in Oman and Saudi Arabia, 86 percent in Qatar and 83 percent in Kuwait, Sheikh Dr Mohammad explained.

As for money transactions, Sheikh Dr Mohammad said a study showed that in 2008, $ 40 billion were transferred from GCC countries alone, compared to $47 billion coming out from the United States.

Another demographic dilemma, he noted, is the emergence of a second generation of expatriates, as the already suffering labor market in the Gulf will have to accommodate them.

Facing all these challenges require wisdom, vision and a series of gradual and settled procedures that must encompass innovative solutions and creative projects, he said. Sheikh Dr Mohammad stressed importance of protecting the Gulf cultural and social identity in the course of addressing the demographic dilemma. - Kuwaittimes