GCC Foreign Ministers Discuss Latest Developments in Region

GCC Foreign Ministers Discuss Latest Developments in Region

Jeddah/ 13 August 2014/ Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf states (GCC) held a meeting in Jeddah this evening to discuss the latest developments in the region. They stressed the importance of concerted efforts to stop the bloodshed of their people and protect their interests and gains as well as the fight against extremist and terrorist movements in order to strengthen regional security and stability. Qatar's delegation to the meeting was led by HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah. The GCC Minsters lauded the contents of the speech the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud delivered on August 2, 2014, calling for combating terror and warned against sedition that threatens the Arab and Islamic nations. They expressed profound denunciation of the brutal war crimes, aggression and the state-sponsored terrorism in Gaza Strip and absolute rejection of the Israeli justifications given in this regard. The ministers also confirmed the stance by the side of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian authority to reach a constant ceasefire in Gaza to put an end to the severe crimes committed by Israel against civilians and welcomed the truce reached in Gaza, calling for lifting the siege on Gaza and restoring the natural life to the residents of the Strip, Saudi Press Agency SPA reported. They cited the great role being played by Egypt to consolidate the truce and reach a sustainable stoppage of bloodshed. They rejected the Israeli accusations that other countries are supporting terrorism, considering it a despairing attempt to draw the attention away from its continuing violations of the simplest rights of the Palestinian people. On Iraqi matter, the ministers welcomed the election of Mohammed Maasoom as President of Iraq, assigning of Dr. Hayder Al-Ebadi to form a new government and the election of Saleem Al-Jubouri as Speaker of parliament of Iraq, hoping that this would lead to enhancement of the security and stability in Iraq. The ministers confirmed their keenness of the unity, integrity of the territories of Iraq and non-interference in its internal affairs. For his part, Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Secretary General of the GCC, said the ministers also reviewed a number of reports on the performance of GCC sub-committees, urging them to finish their work to implement Riyadh declaration within one week.