Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani stressed that the 37th session of the GCC Supreme Council, to be held in Bahrain tomorrow, is an opportunity for consultation between Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries, and to exchange opinion about the ongoing events and developments in the region.
In an interview with Al Sharq, Al Zayani said that the rapid developments in the region require more coordination, consultation and integration among GCC countries, in order to protect its achievements and prosperity.
He noted that the GCC countries seek honestly to find peaceful political solutions to all regional crises and reduce their impact, adding that the consequences of the crisis will not only be on the GCC states, but also on the regional and international security and peace.
Al Zayani said that the leaders of the GCC countries have given importance to economy, pointing to the GCC common market which was established in 2008 and has made many achievements.
He also pointed to the Customs Union which allowed the GCC countries to raise the level of trade exchange from $20bn in 2003 to $140bn in 2015.
He also pointed out that the establishment of the Economic and Development Affairs Authority and the Judicial Economic Authority will play a prominent role in the consolidation of the economic cooperation and integration among GCC countries and will strengthen the GCC citizens' gains from the common market.
About intervention in the internal affairs of the GCC, the Secretary-General said that the GCC states are aware of the objectives of those interfering in its internal affairs, and are fully aware that this intervention seeks to destabilise their countries and undermine their cohesion and solidarity, adding that the security cooperation between the GCC countries at all levels is the way to meet this challenge and thwart its plans.
He warned that terrorism is an extraneous phenomenon to our peaceful societies and contrary to our tolerant Islamic faith.
Dr Al Zayani underlined the GCC countries' great efforts to fight terrorism militarily, economically and socially, adding that there are cooperation agreements and strategies between GCC states to combat terrorism.
On Arab political differences, the GCC Secretary-General said that the GCC countries have always stressed that they are part of the joint Arab action and as stated in the statute, the coordination, cooperation and integration among them serve the lofty goals of the Arab nation and in line with the Charter of the Arab League which calls for closer convergence and stronger bonds to serve Arab and Islamic issues. Therefore, the GCC states make every effort to support the joint Arab action in various fields, and contribute to settling Arab disputes and differences.
On the crisis in Yemen, Al Zayani said that the GCC states are fully aware that the stability of the Republic of Yemen and its security is part of the security and stability of the GCC and therefore it launched the GCC initiative that contributed to the breakthrough of the Yemeni crisis. However, the coup by Houthi rebels and Ali Saleh against the Yemeni government complicated the crisis, he added.
He said that the GCC states are still supporting the international efforts in this regard, and the efforts of UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in order to reach the desired solution to begin the reconstruction process.
He added that everyone knows that the Gulf Cooperation Council attaches great importance to Yemen, as it is a neighbour and brother and an active member in many GCC organisations and institutions in various fields such as education, health, media, youth and others.
About the Syrian crisis, Al Zayani stressed that what is happening in Syria is a painful tragedy, adding that the GCC countries' stance was principled and unchanged, which is to stop the bloodshed and support a peaceful political solution in accordance with the Geneva 1 agreement as the basis for any political solution that preserves Syria's unity, sovereignty and independence, and achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people. GCC has multiple political and diplomatic roles in this regard, he said.
