Foreign Minister and GCC Secretary General Hold Press Conference

Saudi Press Agency

Tuesday 1441/4/13 - 2019/12/10

Riyadh, December 10, 2019, SPA -- Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, disclosed that the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the Arab States discussed here today a number of GCC issues which aim to achieve integration and interdependence among the GCC countries in all fields and to maintain the gains made since the establishment of the council, including the leaders' assertion on the importance of the strength, cohesion and solidity of the Cooperation Council and a consolidation of the GCC joint action. He added that the GCC leaders discussed many regional and international issues.

During a press conference held here today at a conclusion of the 40th session of the GCC Supreme Council, Prince Faisal affirmed that the summit is held in response to the desire of the brothers in the United Arab Emirates that the Kingdom is to host this session, wishing success for the UAE in the presidency of the works of ministerial and technical meetings in 2020.

Prince Faisal thanked the Sultanate of Oman's great efforts for the success of the 39th session of the GCC Supreme Council.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, affirmed the strength, cohesion and strength of the GCC, and the unity of the class among its members due to the special relations and common features among them, and their desire to achieve more coordination, complementarity and interdependence among them, in all fields.

Al-Zayani clarified that the Supreme Council praised the good efforts and sincere efforts made by Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, to bridge the rift that marred relations between member countries, and the Council expressed its support for those efforts and the importance of continuing them within the framework of the one Gulf house.

He pointed to the Supreme Council leaders 'affirmation of the necessity of implementing all the decisions of the Supreme Council and the agreements concluded within the framework of the GCC and commitment to its contents, indicating that the Supreme Council expressed satisfaction with the progress made in implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to enhance Gulf joint action as Council instructed the councils, commissions, councils, ministerial and technical committees to redouble efforts to complete the remaining steps, according to their timetables.

Al-Zayani stated that the Supreme Council adopted the recommendations of the Joint Defense Council at its sixteenth session and blessed the establishment of the Gulf Academy for Defense and Security Studies and the adoption of its financial budget, and the Supreme Council welcomed the opening of the official headquarters of the International Alliance for the Protection and the Safety of Maritime Navigation and ensuring the safety of sea lanes, in the Kingdom of Bahrain in November 2019 confirming that this will enhance the security and protection of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman and Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well.

The Council also adopted the recommendations of the interior ministers at their 36th meeting, and blessed the holding of the joint security exercise "Arab Gulf Security 2" in the United Arab Emirates, next year.

Regarding the field of economic, development and legislative affairs, Al-Zayani clarified that the Supreme Council approved the unified public system for real estate owners, the amendment to the Trademarks Law and the document on environmental orientations for the states of the GCC for 2020, the new cultural strategy for the countries of the Council 2020-2030, and the strategy for joint action in the field of work and manpower, and the guide to the best experiences in the field of housing financing and the internal organization of the Center for Translation, Arabization, and pay interest in the Arabic language.

He added that the Council also approved the studies used by the advisory body of the Supreme Council and decided to approve them and refer them to the relevant committees and bodies to benefit from them and instruct the General Secretariat to follow up that.

Al-Zayani indicated that the Supreme Council welcomed the holding of the 41st session in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and approved the nomination of the State of Kuwait to Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, to take over the position of the Secretary-General of the GCC, as of April 1st, 2020.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his reply to the journalists, stated that the summit agenda was full of many decisions and important points.

On the Iranian file and the threats to the Gulf countries and how to confront them, he explained that the Iranian threat is a threat to everyone, and no one in the Gulf system disagrees with him, indicating that there is an understanding by the GCC countries on the importance of dealing with the threat and confronting it in the necessary ways.

He also reaffirmed that the unity of the Gulf system is stable and standing even if some things are marred, but it does not amount to reducing its strength and cohesion.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs demanded that Iran change its behavior in attacking ships in the Gulf, supplying militias with weapons, financing terrorism and destabilizing countries.

In the Lebanese file, he emphasized the Kingdom's interest in Lebanon's stability, expressing hope that the Lebanese people will find a way to move forward in a way that guarantees peace and stability for their country.

Regarding negotiations on the Qatari crisis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the efforts of the Emir of the State of Kuwait and the four countries continue to support these efforts and their success.

With regard to the Palestinian file, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah underscored the full support of the states of the GCC for the Palestinian right to obtain all rights under the Arab Peace Initiative.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani reasserted that the speed index of any meeting indicates its success, especially if it is similar to what was issued for today's statement, expressing pride in the understanding that he touched on the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, based on the principle of brotherhood and status, putting the interest of the citizen in their eyes, noting that the final statement reiterated in its content the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in the year 2015 AD, that is in the interest of the Gulf citizen.

On the Gulf crisis, Al-Zayani said: "Since the crisis began between Qatar and the four countries, we are moving forward on two directions: The first is dealing with the problem, and the second relates to the interest of the leaders of the countries in separating the daily actions between the GCC countries in various fields and the problem."

In this regard, he referred to the efforts of the Emir of the State of Kuwait to mediate between all the parties concerned, which were praised by the leaders of the countries concerned.

--SPA
19:48 LOCAL TIME 16:48 GMT
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