Doha: The region\'s largest international exhibition of internal security, law enforcement and defence equipment, Milipol Qatar 2004, opened here yesterday with the latest innovations in home security out in full force.
The fair which is being held under the patronage of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was inaugurated at the Qatar International Exhibition Centre by the Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani.
Also attending the inauguration ceremony were the French Minister of State for Interior Jean Francois Cope, H E Major General Hamad bin Abullah Al Attiyah, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces, Major General Mohammed Abdullah Al Riyami, Assistant Inspector for Operations at the Omani Ministry of Interior, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar and visiting delegations.
Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser told reporters that the security situation in Qatar was stable and that there was no connection between holding the fair and the security in the country, stressing that it had been staged since 1999.
Milipol Qatar in its new round would succeed by all measures in achieving the aspired goals, he said.
Referring to the rotating meetings of Arab and Gulf interior ministries, he pointed out that the GCC interior ministers had signed a unified agreement on combating terror that would be implemented as soon as each state established its own measures.
Jean Francois Cope, meanwhile, pointed out that Milipol Qatar provided a chance to exchange viewpoints with the Qatari side which he said were identical as to combating terror.
Later Gilles Barissat, President Director General of Europeenne des Salons, organisers of Milipol fairs told The Peninsula that this year\'s Milipol Qatar was a success as with 35 exhibitors taking part making it a truly international fair.
He said the theme of this year\'s fair focussed on combating terrorism with most of the countries displaying their cutting edge equipment in the field.
"France is one of the major exhibitors that is well acquainted with anti-terrorism issues, but there are also other important exhibitors like Russia, US, UK etc each of which is proposing solutions to the issue", he said.
Alain Rondepierre, Chairman of Milipol noted that the success and future of a fair is judged by the contracts concluded and that he was hopeful several contracts would be signed this year in view of the increase in the number of exhibitors.
