GCC declares satisfaction with achievements

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) RIYADH, June 16 (KUNA) -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states concluded the 148th session of their ministerial council on Wednesday manifesting satisfaction with the achievements that have been made since the council saw the light in 1981 The meeting conclusion statement, read by GCC Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajraf, underlined the chain of accomplishments, made over the past four decade, noting the desire to make more achievements in the future for sake of stronger security, stability and prosperity. The GCC ministers lauded the statement addressed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the climatic conference, hosted by the US in April, also praising Riyadh's launch of the "green Saudi Arabia" and the "green Middle East" initiatives, declared in March. They congratulated the UAE on its election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and declared support for the UAE hosting of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), due in Abu Dhabi 2030. They also felicitated Saudi Arabia on its election as a board member of the International Labor Organization for 2021-2024. Moreover, they lauded the GCC health ministries and the sector personnel for the great efforts in fighting the coronavirus, noting necessity of increasing vaccinations against the pandemic. They applauded the G7 states' decision to secure more than one billion doses of the vaccines to developing countries, an approach that will speed up recoveries worldwide.  On bolstering joint GCC action, the ministers examined action at this level by the GCC specialized committees, namely with respect of executing resolutions of the GCC 41st session (Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Sabah Summit), namely the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz for cementing the common action in various spheres. Moreover, they examined the process of inter-GCC economic integration particularly the implementation of resolutions issued by the GCC Supreme Council on requirements of the custom union, the GCC common market -- toward attaining the full-fledged economic merger set in 2025. The GCC ministers affirmed the continuation of the cooperation programs and all processes designed to enhance joint action. They lauded the inking of the accord for establishing the Gulf statistics center in Muscat. On terrorism, they affirmed the GCC unwavering renunciation of the scourge and their commitment the war on terrorism, as part of the international coalition, namely the war on the so-called Islamic state (known also as Daesh) and all other radical groups and drying up origin of their financing. Continuing hostile and terrorist operations by the Iran-backed Houthi militias targeting civil targets in Saudi Arabia constitutes a dangerous threat to regional and international security, the ministers stressed in the statement. They also re-affirmed support for Saudi Arabia in the face of these operations and any measure it may take to deter these terrorist acts. The council called on the international community to shoulder the responsibility vis vis these terrorist acts and the powers that support the Houthi militias, and intensifying the efforts to prevent the militias from smuggling arms. It lauded effective efforts by the Saudi air force and the coalition for supporting the legitimacy in Yemen in confronting attacks with missiles and drones by the Houthi militias.  The GCC ministerial council condemned Iran's support for the terrorist groups, sectarian militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen and other countries, posing a threat to the Arab nation security, destabilizing Arab countries and attacking the international coalition that is fighting Daesh. The ministers condemned terrorist operations taking place in Afghanistan, targeting innocent civilians, civil installations, such as schools and worship places as well as hospitals, affirming solidarity with Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism and restoring security and stability on the country's territories. As to Iran's occupation of the UAE islands, the council re-affirmed the unwavering stance, rejecting the occupation of Greater, Lesser Tonbs and Abu Moussa, emphasizing support for the UAE sovereignty on the islands, territorial water and air space, in addition to the continental shelf as well as the exclusive economic zone. Any practices and actions on Iran's parts on the three UAE islands are illegitimate, the council stressed, urging Tehran to respond to Abu Dhabi's calls to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or by submission to the International Court of Justice in the Hague. (end) mdm.rkMENAFN16062021000071011013ID1102292880