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June 17, 2005 |
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FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE GCC MEMBER STATES STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF MILITARY CO-OPERATION. THE COUNCIL STRESSES ITS SUPPORT TO CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH'S PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER TO COMBAT TERROR. THE MINISTERS URGE THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO STOP ITS AGGRESSIVE PRACTICES AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND EMPHASIZE THAT ISRAEL MUST JOIN THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY AS PART OF EFFORTS TO MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST FREE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) denounced all terrorist activities in Iraq targeting its civilians and military personnel and humanitarian and religious organizations as well as the kidnapping and torture of innocent people in the war-torn country. The GCC foreign ministers meeting also supported all efforts aimed at achieving Iraqi national reconciliation as well as participation of all Iraqi factions in the country's political process in order to protect its unity, independence and sovereignty. Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Mubarak Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, who chaired the meeting, denied reports that a tripartite panel comprising Kuwait, Oman and the UAE had been set up to settle disputes between the member states. However, he said the six-member body would support any effort to strengthen GCC unity. "The meeting did not discuss the Iranian proposal to establish an Islamic Middle East," he told reporters. GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah said the one-day meeting called upon all Iraqis to stand united against forces trying to undermine the country's security and stability. The ministers also called for non-interference in Iraq's internal matters. They renewed their condemnation of the deliberate mass killing of Iraqis and other POWs by the former Iraqi regime. The ministers also urged the Israeli government to stop its aggressive practices against the Palestinian people and called on Tel Aviv to implement the land-for-peace formula and reach a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. The meeting called upon the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations to revive the peace road map and the Arab peace plan. They also emphasized that Israel must join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as part of efforts to make the region free of weapons of mass destruction. The ministers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates urged the international community to strengthen cooperation to combat terrorism, "which has taken new dimensions threatening world peace and stability." Al-Attiyah said the meeting supported the resolutions taken by the international counterterrorism conference held in Riyadh last February, especially Crown Prince Abdullah's proposal to establish an international center to combat terror. It said the center would support international efforts to combat terror in an effective manner. The ministers emphasized the need for strengthening GCC unity in order to confront foreign challenges, a final communiqué said. "They also discussed matters related to GCC customs union, common market, monetary union and GCC-EU negotiations and took necessary decisions," it added. Al-Attiyah said the meeting allowed GCC citizens to run employment offices, car rentals and most cultural activities in member countries beginning September 2005. The ministers expressed their happiness over the measures taken to implement the multipurpose smart IDs to facilitate travel of GCC citizens between the member states. The meeting congratulated Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad on the implementation of a permanent constitution for the country. The foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concluded in Riyadh their ordinary 95th session. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister led the Kingdom's delegation to the meeting. The ministers issued a press statement in which they congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz on his recovery and wished the monarch permanent good health and the Kingdom steady progress and prosperity. They stressed that the GCC's ability to confront challenges is linked to a united position in the Council. The ministerial council expressed its appreciation of the Kingdom's initiative for holding International Counter-terrorism Conference in Riyadh in February, 2005. It stressed its welcome to and support for Riyadh declaration and decisions particularly the proposal of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard for setting up an International Counter-terrorism Center which will effectively contribute to supporting the international efforts to combat terrorism. On the enhancement of joint economic action, the ministerial council referred a number of recommendations and decisions to the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee. As for relations between GCC member states and other countries and groups, the statement praised the results of the 15th joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the European Union. In the political field, the council dealt with a number of important issues at the regional and international arenas and clarified its position towards them including Iran's occupation of three islands of the United Arab Emirates; the situation in Iraq; the Palestinian issue and developments of the peace process in the Middle East. The council called on Iran to positively respond to the endeavors of UAE and the world community to solve the issue either through negotiations directly or referring it to the International Court of Justice. With regard to Iraq, the council looks forward that the International Conference on Iraq due to be held in Brussels on June 22 will result in supporting the Iraqi government and Iraq's stability, independence and territorial integrity. As for the Middle East peace process, the ministers called on the U.S.A., Russia, the European Union, the United Nations and the World community to continue their efforts to activate the Road Map and the Arab Initiative to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Foreign Ministers of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries arrived in Riyadh to participate in the 95th session of their ministerial council. Those who arrived included Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ibn Abdullah Al Mahmood; Kuwaiti foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah; Bahraini Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Mubarak Al Khalifah; Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef Ibn Alawi Abdullah and UAE's Foreign Minister Rashed Ibn Abdullah Al-Naimi. At Riyadh Air Base, they were received by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, and the GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah and the ambassadors of Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates accredited to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) started their ordinary 95th session. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister led the Kingdom's delegation to the meeting. In his address, Bahrain's Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister and President of the Ministerial Council's current session Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Mubarak Al Khalifa pointed out that the session's agenda comprises a number of political, economic, cultural, security and military issues. Then the ministers held a closed-door meeting. The Foreign ministers of Gulf countries met in the Saudi capital to discuss economic links and political issues. The ministers from the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates examined political, economic, security and military issues, said Bahrain's Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Mubarak Al Khalifa, whose country holds the rotating GCC chairmanship. He said the ministers also discussed ties with other economic blocs. A source in the meeting said the officials focused on finding solutions to problems hampering the GCC economic integration. Sheikh Mohammed called for supporting the Iraqi people "in their march toward stability and construction" and said the GCC stands by the Palestinians with a view to helping them "establish their independent state with (east) Jerusalem as its capital." Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs in the Sultanate of Oman returned home from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after attending the 95th ministerial meeting of the GCC foreign ministers which concluded in Riyadh. Upon his arrival Alawi was received by Mahmoud bin Ali Al Rahmah, head of the protocol department at the Foreign Ministry and charge d'affaires at the Saudi Embassy in the Sultanate. Earlier, in a statement on his departure, Alawi said that the one-day meeting is considered a regular one and comes in the aftermath of the convening of the GCC consultative summit which was held in Riyadh recently. He said the ministers will discuss committees recommendations, especially the financial and economic cooperation committee recommendation on the GCC member states collective negotiations with some other countries. Alawi said they will also discuss implementation of the GCC Supreme Council's resolutions, expanding cooperation among member states and preparations for the forthcoming summit in Abu Dhabi. The Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, more commonly known as the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), was founded on 22 Rajab 1401 AH (25th May, 1981), when the kings and princes of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates signed the new organization's constitution. The constitution of the GCC requires the organization to provide "the means for realizing co-ordination, integration and co-operation" in economic, social and cultural affairs. Specifically, the GCC aims: to achieve co-ordination, integration and close ties leading to unity between the member states to deepen the ties, relations and all aspects of co-operation between the peoples of the region to adopt similar systems and laws in economics and financial affairs; commercial, customs and transportation affairs; education and cultural affairs; social and health affairs; communication, informational, political, legislative and administrative affairs to encourage progress in the sciences and technologies involved in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, and to establish scientific research centers and to undertake joint projects. The structure of the organization consists of the Supreme Council, the Ministerial Council and the Secretariat General. The Supreme Council (the highest authority of the GCC) comprises the heads of state of the six member countries. The Supreme Council meets once a year in ordinary session. Emergency sessions can be convened at any time by the heads of any two member states. The chairmanship of the Council is held by each member state in turn. Resolutions are carried by majority vote. The Supreme Council is responsible for determining the overall policy of the GCC and for ratifying recommendations presented to it by the Ministerial Council or the Secretariat General. The Ministerial Council comprises the Foreign Ministers of the six member countries. The Ministerial Council meets once every three months in ordinary session. Emergency sessions can be convened at any time by the Foreign Ministers of any two member states. The Ministerial Council draws up policies and makes recommendations on means of developing co-operation and co-ordination amongst member states in the economic, social and cultural spheres. The Secretariat General prepares reports, studies, accounts and budgets for the GCC. It drafts rules and regulations and is charged with the responsibility of assisting member states in the implementation of decisions taken by the Supreme and Ministerial Councils. The Secretary General is appointed for a three-year period (renewable) by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the Ministerial Council. The Secretariat is based in the city of Riyadh. The GCC headquarters is located in the Diplomatic Quarter, where a substantial complex, financed by a gift from King Fahd, has been built to meet the Secretariat's present and future needs. The GCC represents a bold move towards regional integration. The speed of its progress has been remarkable, aided by the homogeneity of religious commitment and common economic, social and cultural interests. In the past, there have been a number of grandiose schemes to unite parts of the Arab world, all of which have foundered. The GCC, more modest in ambition, has shown how, with the commitment of heads of state, a well-planned and rational program of integration is possible, given time to resolve the inevitable problems. Under chairmanship of Bahrain currently presiding the GCC Supreme Council Round, the 95th session of the Ministerial Council for GCC Foreign Ministers was in Riyadh. GCC Secretary - General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah said that this session has a significant importance as it is held following the GCC's Consultative Summit that was held on May 28 and it is of importance that member states exchange views and opinions so as to remove all obstacles on the GCC track. He pointed out that the session discussed the implementation of the 25th session's resolutions with regards to environment, security, economy, and human affairs. Al-Attiyah also said that negotiations with the economic blocs, the EU, China, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Southern America's Joint market Group MERCSUR. The Iranian-occupied Greater and Minor Tunb Island of the UAE were e discussed in the session. Also relations with Iran and latest developments in Iraq, Palestine as well as the Middle East process were among the issues reviewed. |
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