Doha /Information Office/ 11 January 2016/ The joint high-level cooperation committee between Qatar and Kuwait expressed grave concern over continuing abduction of a number of Qatari nationals in southern Iraq who entered Iraq with official permission from the Iraqi Interior Ministry, in coordination with the Embassy of Iraq in Doha. In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the fourth session held today in Doha, the Committee considered the kidnapping as a flagrant violation of international law, human rights and contrary to the provisions of the sacred religion of Islam, and is unacceptable act that harms the bonds of fraternal relations between the Arabs. The Committee called on the Iraqi government to exert every effort possible for the release of the kidnapped Qataris and their safe return to the country. The joint statement said that the Committee signed the minutes of its meetings which covered the areas of cooperation between the two foreign ministries along with the areas of defense and security, economy and trade, investment, energy, industry, education, higher education, labor and social affairs, environment, media, youth and sports, transportation, communications and information technology, electricity and water, civil service and administrative development. It also signed agreements on air transport and on cooperation in cultural, artistic, higher education and scientific research areas as well as memoranda of understanding for cooperation in oil and gas, petrochemical and industrial fields, civil service and administrative development as well as the third executive program on media cooperation for the years (2016, 2017, and 2018) and the second executive program on agreement for educational cooperation for the years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020). According to the joint statement, the two sides discussed in a spirit of brotherhood, mutual understanding and trust the overall bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields and stressed the importance of developing them and taking practical steps to activate them for the benefit of both peoples. The two sides also addressed the overall situation in the region and regional and international issues of mutual interest. The statement also said that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met HE Kuwaiti First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the delegation accompanying him, who conveyed the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's greetings and wishes of health and happiness to HH the Emir and further wishes of development and prosperity to the Qatari people. In turn, HH the Emir entrusted the Kuwaiti first deputy prime minister with his greetings and wishes of health and wellbeing to the Emir of Kuwait and further wishes of progress and growth to the fraternal Kuwaiti people. As part of the blessed progress of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States (GCC), the joint high-level cooperation committee between Qatar and Kuwait extended thanks and appreciation to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HH the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for their great support to the Committee and their keenness on the success of its meetings. The two sides agreed to hold the fifth session of the Committee in Kuwait next year on a date to be fixed through diplomatic channels. HE Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah presided over the Qatari side in the fourth session of the joint high-level cooperation committee between Qatar and Kuwait, while the Kuwaiti side was headed by HE Kuwaiti First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.