GCC Extraordinary Summit Issues Final Communique

Saudi Press Agency

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

Makkah, May 30, 2019, SPA -- The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States issued a final Communique today as follows:

"Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

At an invitation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the GCC Supreme Council held an extraordinary session in Makkah on May 30, 2019, under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and in participation of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates' Armed Forces; King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Shihab bin Tariq Al Saee, Advisor to the Sultan of Oman; Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al Thani of the State of Qatar; Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait, and Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States.

The GCC leaders lauded the leading role played by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as well as his call to hold this extraordinary summit and the Arab and Islamic summits in order to unite ranks to face the challenges facing the region and maintain security and stability.

The Supreme Council reviewed the critical circumstances and serious challenges facing the region as a result of the recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These attacks have repercussions and represent a direct threat to peace and security in the region, the freedom of maritime navigation, international trade and the stability of oil markets due to some countries' attempts to destabilize security and stability in the region, support of terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region.

The Extraordinary Summit concluded the following:

1- The GCC Supreme Council condemns the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist militias through bomb-laden drones targeting two oil pump stations in Dawadmi and Afif provinces in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, affirming that these acts of terrorism pose a serious threat to the security of the region and the global economy. The Council expresses solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the face of these terrorist threats aimed at provoking unrest in the region. The Supreme Council supports all measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect its security, stability and territorial integrity.

2- The GCC Supreme Council condemns the firing of ballistic missiles by the Houthi militias, totalling more than 225 missiles towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including attacks on Makkah, and more than 155 unmanned aerial vehicles.

3- The GCC Supreme Council condemns the sabotage acts on four civil commercial vessels in the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates, which affected UAE oil tanker, two Saudi tankers and Norwegian oil tanker, considering it a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and safety of maritime navigation in this vital region of the world and negatively affects regional and international peace and security as well as stability of oil markets. The Council affirmed its solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its support for all measures taken by the United Arab Emirates to protect its security, stability and territorial integrity, calling upon the international community and the international maritime authorities to shoulder their responsibilities to prevent such acts of sabotage.

4- The GCC Supreme Council emphasizes the strength and coherence of the GCC and the unity of its ranks to confront these threats.

5- The GCC Supreme Council reviews the GCC defense policy based on the principle of collective and integrated security for the purpose of defending the entity, fundamentals and interests of its countries, territories, airspace and territorial waters, affirming the principles contained in the GCC Joint Defense Agreement affirming that the security of the GCC States is an indivisible unit and any attack on any member state is an attack on all of them. The Council also asserted the contents of the principles of the Statute of the Cooperation Council and the decisions of the Supreme Council on integration and cooperation among the GCC States to maintain security, peace and stability in the GCC States.

6- The GCC Supreme Council emphasizes the stances of the Supreme Council and its firm decisions on relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, affirming the need for Iran to abide by the basic principles based on the Charter of the United Nations and the international laws, principles of good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of States, non-interference in internal affairs and non-use of force or threat. The GCC Supreme Council also affirms that Iran must stop supporting, financing and arming terrorist militias and organizations as well as feeding sectarian conflicts, calling upon the Iranian regime to prevail wisdom, keep away from hostilities and destabilizing security and stability. The Council calls upon the international community to shoulder its responsibility to maintain international peace and security, take a firm action against the Iranian regime as well as more effective and serious steps to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear capability and put more stringent restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program.

7- The GCC Supreme Council affirms the need that Iran spares the region the dangers of war by abiding by the international laws and conventions, stop interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region, and stop supporting terrorist groups and militias and threatening the security of maritime navigation.

8- The GCC Supreme Council lauds the level of coordination and consultation with the United States of America and consolidating the US-GCC joint cooperation within the framework of the existing strategic partnership between the GCC and the United States of America and the bilateral agreements between the GCC States and the United States of America in order to achieve security and stability in the region. The Council reiterates its support for the USA's strategy towards Iran, including Iran nuclear program, ballistic missile program, Iran's activities to destabilize the region, its support for terrorism, and combating the hostile activities of Hezbollah, the Revolutionary Guards, Houthi and other terrorist organizations. The GCC Supreme Council lauds the actions taken by the United States of America to confront Iran.

9- The GCC Supreme Council affirms the GCC keenness to maintain stability, security and peace in the region, the growth of the world economy and the stability of oil markets. The Council denounces the Iranian threats to the freedom of maritime navigation and oil supplies, calling upon on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in securing the freedom of maritime navigation, in light of these threats and attacks against the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The GCC Supreme Council expressed thanks to and appreciation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is also Chairman of the Supreme Council's meeting, and the Saudi government and people for the warm reception, good hospitality and sincere brotherhood feelings during the meeting.

--SPA
04:08 LOCAL TIME 01:08 GMT
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