Talks on target

The 11th Manama Dialogue summit, organised by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), concluded yesterday, with the participants giving out a firm warning to Iran to put an end to its hazardous schemes.

The participants agreed with the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s notion that Iran’s activities are inflicting harm to the whole Middle Eastern region.

Syrian conflict, especially the refugee crisis, Yemen war and Russian interference in Syria were the other major topics deliberated during the summit. The participants of the summit praised Manama for successfully holding the summit, which reflects its desire to make the world a better place to live.

Though Senior Fellow for Middle East Security at IISS, Emile Hokayem, expressed doubt in making any progress in Syrian crisis soon, there is no denying that the summit succeeded in highlighting the magnitude of the problem and its impact.

The brutality of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, growth of terrorist state IS, intervention of foreign powers in the region, and the plights of Syrian refugees also received enough space in the dialogue.

A number of participants including Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom Philip Hammond and German Defence Minister Dr Ursula von der Leyen stressed the need to start defeating IS ideology.

Russia’s success in defeating IS was also discussed and questioned during the summit.

Caption : During the closing session of the summit

Report by 

Melvin Mendonca/DTNN

melvin@dt.bh