Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Disaster Preparedness Executive Committee (EXCOM) Meeting 16-17 March 2004. Volume 05-04

摘要

Man-made and natural disasters continue to be threats in this region and ongoing cooperation in responding to these disasters remains a matter of regional importance. Representatives from all nations of the Persian Gulf should discuss how the military could more effectively address the issues of disaster preparedness and better coordinate support to civil authorities. Additionally, coordination and dialogue concerning disaster preparedness and environmental security are non-contentious and comparatively free of political conflict from one country to the next. Therefore, the GCC Council Disaster Preparedness Committee can achieve real progress in developing and coordinating ways to deal with disaster preparedness. With the goals of enhancing environmental cooperation between defense and environmental authorities in the region, and examining opportunities for multi-lateral and inter-agency cooperation, the U. S. Central Command and the Bahrain Defense Force co-sponsored the Executive Committee for Disaster Preparedness in Manama, Bahrain, with the coordinated efforts of the Office of the Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense for Installations and the Environment, the Near East-South Asia Center of the National Defense University and the U. S. Army War College Center for Strategic Leadership. Key military and civilian leaders from Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also participated in this second meeting of the Executive Committee. The objectives of this meeting were to 'Discuss a proposed 5-year disaster preparedness strategy for the region', and Start developing the next Disaster Preparedness Conference to be held in Manama, Bahrain 27-29 September 2004.