Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with other dignitaries during the GCC ministerial meeting in Riyadh, yesterday.
Riyadh: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial council welcomed the results of the meeting of the Council of League of Arab States at the level of foreign ministers held in Doha on Tuesday, which affirmed that the water security of the Republic of Sudan and the Arab Republic of Egypt is an integral part of Arab national security, refusing any action or measure that would prejudice their rights in Nile waters.
The final statement of the meeting of the 148th session of the GCC Ministerial Council held in Riyadh stressed the priority of water security for the Republic of Sudan and the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the support and assistance of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to all endeavours that would contribute to solving the file of the Renaissance Dam in a manner that takes into account the interests of all parties and the importance of continuing negotiations to reach a fair agreement, in accordance with international laws and standards.
The GCC Ministerial Council praised the contents of the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the “Leaders Summit on Climate”, which was held at the invitation of the President of the United States of America on April 22-23, 2021, in the presence of 40 world leaders Noting the Kingdom’s efforts to combat climate change to create a better environment.
The Ministerial Council congratulated the United Arab Emirates on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2022-2023, and also expressed its support for the UAE hosting the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change “COP 28” in Abu Dhabi in 2023.
The GCC Ministerial Council praised the results of the first meeting of the Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council, and the agreement it included and the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding, to develop and diversify relations between the two countries, stressing that this bilateral action between member states is a tributary of joint action and enhances the progress of the Cooperation Council for the good of citizens.
The GCC Ministerial Council praised the efforts made by the ministries of health and health workers in GCC countries in facing the coronavirus pandemic, and the importance of continuing and expanding vaccination campaigns that will contribute, to overcoming this pandemic, and the Ministerial Council urged citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to take the necessary vaccinations against COVID, which have proven safe and effective to reach community immunity and overcome this pandemic.
The GCC Ministerial Council was briefed on the topics on its agenda, and the efforts made by the working committees within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the General Secretariat to implement the decisions of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its 41st session (Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Sabah Summit), and the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, regarding the promotion of joint Gulf action in all fields.
The Council reviewed the process of economic and development integration among the countries of the Cooperation Council, and stressed the continuation of strengthening cooperation and integration among the member states in order to implement all decisions of the Supreme Council related to completing the requirements of the customs union and the Gulf Common Market, in order to achieve economic unity by 2025. The GCC Ministerial Council also affirmed the Continuation and follow-up of cooperation programs between the GCC countries and everything that would develop and strengthen the joint Gulf action.
The Ministerial Council affirmed the GCC’s firm stances towards terrorism and its rejection of all forms of violence and extremism, and the commitment of member states to continue their efforts within the international coalition to combat the terrorist organization ISIS and all extremist terrorist organizations and to dry up their sources of funding.
The Ministerial Council called on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards terrorist acts and the parties that support them, and to intensify efforts to prevent arms smuggling to militias, praising the efficiency of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces and the Coalition Forces to Support Legitimacy in Yemen in intercepting and confronting missiles and drones, which amounted to more than (367) ballistic missiles, and (602) aircraft. The Ministerial Council condemned Iran’s continued support for terrorist groups and sectarian militias in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and others, which threaten Arab national security and destabilize Arab countries, and attack the international coalition forces to fight ISIS.
The Ministerial Council condemned all terrorist operations against the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan that target innocent civilians and civilian facilities such as schools, places of worship and hospitals, and affirmed the GCCs solidarity with the Republic of Afghanistan in fighting terrorism and restoring security and stability in its lands.
