Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with GCC Foreign Ministers, and Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf, at the 147th session of the Ministerial Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh: The 147th session of GCC Ministerial Council yesterday affirmed commitment to the Al-Ula Statement and Al-Ula Declaration issued by the 41st Session of the GCC Supreme Council, which was held in Al-Ula Governorate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021.
It also stressed that the security of the GCC member states is inseparable, in line with the GCC constituent law and the joint defence treaty stipulating that these countries would stand together in the face of any external danger.
In a statement at the end of its meeting yesterday, the Ministerial Council condemned the attack that targeted one of the petroleum storage facilities at Ras Tanura port with a drone coming from the sea as well as the targeting of Saudi Aramco’s facilities in Dhahran with a ballistic missile on March 7, 2021.
The Council also denounced the continuous attacks of Houthi militias against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, affirming the GCC’s stand by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in taking all necessary and deterrent measures against these provocative acts that target civilians, civilian objects, airports, seaports, vital oil facilities and global energy resources. The Council also stressed that these acts violate all international laws and norms and threaten regional security and stability, lauding the efficiency and preparedness of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces.
The Ministerial Council calls upon the international community to bear its responsibility toward these terrorist sabotage acts and the parties supporting them.
Within the framework of promoting joint GCC action, the council examined efforts undertaken by the GCC Secretariat General for implementing resolutions of the GCC Supreme Council 41st Session (the Summit of Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Sabah), and visionary plans advocated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for boosting joint action, strengthening the GCC economies, completing the requirements for the joint custom union, the common gulf market as a prelude to achieve the GCC economic unity by 2025.
The Ministerial Council also stressed the importance of GCC integration and collective interaction in the post-pandemic period, especially in the areas of food security, demographics, labor and education.
The Ministerial Council applauded the continuing efforts exerted by the GCC armed forces in coordination with the GCC Secretariat General to implement all resolutions related to the joint military action particularly with regard of activating the joint military command and pursuing work for attaining military integration of the GCC countries’ forces.
At the health level, the Ministerial Council praised the ongoing efforts by the health authorities in the council member countries to cope with repercussions of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), affirming necessity of exchanging expertise, also lauding citizens’ cooperation and their effective contributions in this regard.
In the final statement, the Ministerial Council affirmed its support for the UAE sovereignty over the three islands, the UAE territorial waters, the territorial airspace, the continental shelf, the economic zone as inseparable parts of the UAE territories. The Council called on Iran to respond to the UAE efforts to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or refer the question to the International Court of Justice.
On the Palestinian cause, the council affirmed the member states’ call for establishing an independent Palestinian state with the June 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of this state, in addition to ensuring rights of the refugees according to the Arab Peace Initiative, international reference and resolutions of the international legitimacy.
The ministers applauded a recent decision by the Palestinian president to hold elections in all Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem and hailed Egypt for hosting the Palestinian dialogue designed to tackle rifts among Palestinian factions.
They greeted a resolution by the first preliminary circuit of the International Criminal Court, stipulating that the regional jurisdictions of the of court in Palestine cover the Palestinian territories that have been occupied by Israel since 1967, including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Moreover, the ministers condemned Israel’s construction of settlements, the demolishing of Palestinians’ houses, altering the demographic status in the occupied territories that explicitly breach the international law and relevant international resolutions.
The GCC ministers, in their statement, noted the GCC unwavering stances with respect of the relations with Iran, stressing on the necessity that future negotiations with Tehran must be in a single package, incorporating “Iran’s conducts that undermine security and stability in the region, the world, its sponsorship of terrorism, its missile program namely the Ballistic and Cruise missiles, the drones, the nuclear program, the safety of navigation in the Gulf,” noting the necessity that the GCC states must partake in such negotiations.
The Ministerial Council denounced Iran’s continuing support for terrorist militias and sectarian militias that threaten the Arab national security and seek to undermine stability in the Arab states.
On the Syrian question, the council affirmed the GCC stances and unwavering resolutions regarding the Syrian crisis according to Geneva Principles (1), Security Council Resolution 2254, expressing support for the fifth convention for supporting future of Syria and the region, due in Brussels on March 29-20.
On Yemen, the ministers voiced backing for missions by the UN and US envoys to halt the fighting and pave way for talks on the basis of the national dialogue conference and the Security Council Resolution 2216. The GCC council affirmed support for the Yemeni Government that began its tasks in the interim capital Aden on December 30.
It sternly condemned attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias on civilians and civilian targets and the refugee camps in Maarib with ballistic missiles and drones. Moreover, it decried using refugees in Maarib as human shields.
The council lauded the GCC financial contributions that accounted to 40 percent of the pledges during Yemen’s donors conference that was held on March 1 to fund the UN relief scheme for the country in 2021, also hailing the humanitarian efforts by King Salman Relief Program for Yemen’s reconstruction.
The GCC ministers condemned Houthis’ bids to hamper the mission of the UN team tasked with examining status of the abandoned oil tanker Safer in the Red Sea, urging the UN to try again reach it and spare the region a looming environmental catastrophe.
On Iraq, the GCC officials expressed support for efforts aimed at restoring security and stability to the brotherly nation lauding efforts by the government and the international coalition to deter terrorist groups and armed militias.
The Council condemned recurring terrorist operations aimed at jeopardizing Iraq’s security and stability and snagging efforts for holding elections. On Libya, the council applauded the recent conciliation agreement that led to the formation of a new government.
The Ministerial Council reviewed the findings of the Cooperation Council negotiating team regarding the completion of free trade negotiations between the Cooperation Council and China, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and directed the rapid implementation of what was agreed upon in this regard.
