GCC Extraordinary Summit Kicks Off under Chairmanship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Saudi Press Agency

Friday 1440/9/26 - 2019/05/31

Makkah, May 30, 2019, SPA -- The extraordinary summit of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) started at Al-Safa Palace here this evening under the chairmanship of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The leaders and heads of delegations of the GCC countries were received by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Shehab bin Tariq Al Saeed, Advisor to the Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman; Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait; Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces; and Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar.

Following the reception ceremony, the GCC extraordinary summit was opened with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.

At the outset of the GCC extraordinary summit, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud delivered the following speech:

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah,

My brothers, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies,

I would like to welcome you to your second country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I thank you for accepting the invitation to attend this extraordinary summit, which is taking place under direct challenges that pose threats to regional and international security and stability.

In the past, we were able to overcome many challenges that targeted security and stability, and also preserve the gains and achieve economic and social development in our countries. We will work together to confront all challenges and threats with determination and firmness.

My brothers, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses,

The Iranian regime's interference in the internal affairs of the region's countries, its development of nuclear and missile programs, and threat to the freedom of international maritime navigation which jeopardize world oil supplies, are considered a flagrant challenge to the UN charters, principles and laws for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Iranian regime's support for terrorism over four decades and threat to security and stability in order to expand its influence and hegemony are an act rejected by international norms and conventions.

The recent criminal acts targeting one of the world's most important trade routes through sabotage act against four commercial carriers close to the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates in addition to targeting two oil pumping stations and a number of vital installations in the Kingdom, do require all of us to work seriously to preserve the security and gains of the GCC countries.

My brothers, Your Majesties, Your Highnesses,

The Kingdom is keen on the security and stability of the region, sparing it the scourge of war, and achieving peace, stability and prosperity for all peoples of the region, including the Iranian people. The Kingdom's hand will always be extended to peace and will continue supporting all efforts to maintain security and stability in the region.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the lack of a deterrent and firm stance to confront the subversive activities of the Iranian regime in the region has led the Iranian regime to continue and escalate these activities as we see today. We demand the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the threat posed by Iranian practices to the international peace and security, use all means to stop the Iranian regime from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, sponsoring terrorist activities in the region and the world, and threatening the freedom of maritime navigation in the international straits.

May Allah's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you."

Then, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani delivered a speech in which he thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chairman of the meeting, for calling for this summit in Makkah. He also congratulated the GCC leaders and citizens on the occasion of 88th GCC anniversary.

The GCC Secretary General also hailed the GCC leaders' keenness on the GCC security and stability as well as the GCC march.

Al-Zayani affirmed that this emergency summit is held in light of very critical, sensitive and complicated circumstances which required more solidarity in order to maintain the GCC achievements and interests.

"In light of the continuing Iranian provocations and interference in the internal affairs of the GCC States and the recent terrorist threats and acts in the region, including threats on the safety of oil supplies through sabotage acts against the commercial vessels in the UAE territorial waters and two oil pump stations in Saudi Arabia as well as the firing of ballistic missiles at the holy sites and civilian areas in the Kingdom, this important meeting seeks to take serious and active stance to maintain the security and stability of this vital region," Al-Zayani concluded.

Then, GCC Secretary General announced the start of the closed session.

The Kingdom's delegation to the GCC Extraordinary Summit included His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior; Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of National Guard; Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; and Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Then, a number of speeches were delivered at the Arab Extraordinary Summit by Secretary General of Arab League Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Barham Saleh of Iraq, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait, President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, President Ismail Omar Jila of Djibouti, Chairman of the Military Transitional Council Abdel Fattah El Borhan of Sudan, Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri of Lebanon and President Osman Al-Ghazali of the Comoros.

Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques announced the conclusion of the Summit.

Following the conclusion of the Summit, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques held Suhoor banquet in honor of the leaders and heads of delegations of Arab countries.

The Kingdom's delegation to the Arab Extraordinary Summit included His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior; Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of National Guard; Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; and Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

--SPA
04:25 LOCAL TIME 01:25 GMT
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