Foreign Minister takes part in GCC meeting

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, has emphasized the robust stance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in facing challenges and threats irrespective of their origins. 
He also underlined the GCC States’ incessant efforts and quantum steps they took to build their own capacity and reinforce the internal front within their defence and security strategy.
He said that such endeavours reassert the common fate and high interests that all believe in and work on achieving and preserving, in embodiment of cohesion and cooperation for collective confrontation of common challenges and threats.
This came in the minister’s opening statement at the GCC Ministerial Council in its 142nd Session, held in Prince Saud Al Faisal Conference Centre at the headquarters of the GCC Secretariat General in Riyadh.
The meeting comes to build on the attainments of the process towards further achievements on the path of the GCC joint action and in commitment to the directives of their Majesties and Highnesses GCC leaders and in implementation of the GCC Supreme Council decisions in its 37th Session, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain last December, the minister noted.
This is, he went on saying, in addition to discussion of the progress of relations between the GCC states and their friendly regional countries and entities and exploration of the right mechanisms for coordination of stances, exchange of views vis-à-vis the main regional issues and to look into ways of reinforcing security and stability in the region.
The meeting issued a statement in which it commended the efforts of the security agencies in Bahrain and their high competence in maintaining the stability, security and safety of the country’s territory, affirming support for all the measures taken by the Kingdom to preserve security and stability and shield its national gains.
The Council welcomed the statement issued by the US State Department which designated some members of the terrorist Al Ashtar Brigades as terroristd, considering such move as indicative of a US resolve to counter all forms of terrorism regionally and internationally.
The Council also regarded this step as a US determination to confront all those who support, instigate or sympathize with terrorism, in addition to being a tangible support for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s indefatigable efforts to underpin its security and peace.
The Council also strongly condemned the statement issued by the Representative of the Swiss Federation before the United Nations Human Rights Council in its 34th Session in Geneva, affirming its absolute rejection of the mentioned allegations and claims with regard to the Human Rights status in Bahrain.
It maintained that the statement had turned a blind eye to the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom of Bahrain to consolidate human rights and affirmed that these unacceptable stances are not encouraging for the GCC States to build strong relations with he Swiss Federation.
The Council also welcomed the outcomes of 28th Arab Summit, held in Jordan on March 29 and commended its constructive decisions as truly serving the Arab causes and helping the Arab countries fulfill their aspirations.
Regarding, the GCC-Iranian relations, the Council listened to a briefing by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, on the outcome of his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran to deliver the message of His Highness the Kuwaiti Emir to the Iranian President on GCC-Iran relations.
In this context, the Council affirmed anew the unflinching GCC positions and decisions on the need for Iran to fully commit itself to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law and to adhere to the principles of good neighborliness, respect of states’ sovereignty and non-interference in their internal affairs.
On Yemen issue, the Council decried Huthi and Saleh militias’ persistent targeting of the Red Sea and Bab El- Mandeb as a dangerous escalation that would negatively affect the flow of humanitarian aid to Yemen and endanger international navigation safety and the interests of the countries overlooking the Red Sea, hailing the Saudi generous assistance in the rebuilding of the liberated provinces. 
In this respect, Dr. Abdulaziz Rabiaa, Advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and General Supervisor of King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, gave a detailed account on the noble role of the centre in administering the necessary assistance and alleviating the sufferings of the Yemeni people.
Regarding the Syrian crisis, the Ministerial Council reiterated the GCC constant and unwavering positions and decisions on the need to maintain cease-fire, create an effective and practical supervisory tool to pave the way for a peaceful settlement in accordance with Geneva 1 of June 2012.
Shaikh Khalid and GCC Secretary General, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, held a press conference during which they reviewed the main outcomes of the meeting and the details of the decisions.

Source: BNA