Jeddah: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, participated in the 132nd session of the GCC Ministerial Council at Jeddah Conference Palace.
At the commencement of the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the GCC countries to listened to the speech of the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Yemen, Jamal Abdullah Al-Sallal regarding the latest developments in his country.
The Council expressed grave concern at the tensions taking place in Sanaa caused by a group Houthis, considering it an escalation that breaches national consensus and an act that negatively affects the sanctity of the state.
The Council called for upholding national responsibility and abandoning acts of incitement, sit-ins and stirring unrest, violence and demands that serve certain factions in the country.
The Ministerial Council welcomed the invitation of the Yemeni President, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, for all political and social forces of Yemen to achieve national unity and reconciliation based on the commitment to the foundations and the outcomes of the national dialogue.
The Yemeni President further stressed the need to complete the transition phase in accordance with the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism in order to achieve the aspirations of the Yemeni people and protect Yemen’s unity, security and stability.
The Council released a press statement confirming the firm positions of the GCC states of renouncing terrorism and extremism, stressing that tolerance and coexistence among peoples and nations are the foundations of domestic and foreign policy for standing against terrorist threats that are facing the region and the world.
The Council commended UN Security Council resolution issued on August 15, 2014 which condemned the spread of serious human rights violations by terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, citing in particular the terrorist groups “IS and Al-Nusra Front”, as well as imposing sanctions on individuals associated with these groups.
In this context, the Council noted the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations for Counter-Terrorism Centre in the amount of 100 million dollars, and urged other countries to provide support for the Center as well.
The Council renewed its position of denouncing the continued occupation of the Islamic Republic of Iran of the three UAE islands: the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa.
On another issues, the Council welcomed the agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides for a cease-fire in Gaza, praising the pivotal role played by the Arab Republic of Egypt, as well as commending international and regional efforts on this issue.
The Council demanded both sides to fully comply with the terms of the agreement and called for allowing immediate entry of humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip.
The Council expressed hopes that this agreement will put an end to the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people and assist them to meet their legitimate aspirations and by doing so help achieve peace and stability in the region.
The Council declared Israel responsible for the horrific crimes of war against the Palestinian people and the massive destruction of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
With regards to Iraq, the Council, reiterated its congratulations to the new Iraqi leadership and expressed its hopes that the formation of the new Iraqi government will contribute in promoting national unity.
The Council also noted that it’s looking forward to witnessing the participation of all spectrums of the Iraqi society in the political, security and development process, thus contributing to the achievement of Iraq’s security, stability and sovereignty and restoring Iraq to its natural position in the Arab world.
On the Libyan situation, the Council expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating security and military situation in Libya, stressing the need to an immediate cease of violence and upholding legitimacy in Libya through supporting its constitutional institutions headed by the elected Libyan Parliament, as a prelude to strengthening security, stability and development in Libya.