Leaders tell Iran to stop meddling in region

Manama/Doha: The 37th GCC Supreme Council meeting which concluded in Manama yesterday expressed satisfaction over the achievements made for implementation of defence integration among the GCC countries to build a strong partnership and establish an effective defence system to confront the different challenges and threats.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the closing session of the summit, along with other GCC leaders.

A statement issued at the end of the summit, the council also lauded steps as well as the steps taken to establish a unified military leadership and instructed that all remaining procedure to have it completed be taken.

The council was briefed on a report submitted by the joint defence council as an outcome of its meeting held in Riyadh in November 2016 on the joint defense field and endorsed them.

The council confirmed the GCC's firm positions towards terrorism and extremism and their rejection of all their forms and kinds as well as their motives and justifications whatever their source and urged for working to dry up their source of finance.

The Supreme Council expressed its total rejection of the continuation of Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the GCC countries and the region, and called for full commitment to fundamentals and the basic principles and foundations based on the principle of good neighborliness and respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use or threat of force.

The Supreme Council stressed the need for Iran to change its policy in the region, so as to abide by international conventions and treaties and not to embrace and harboring terrorist groups on its territory, including Hezbollah militia and support of terrorist militias in the region, and not to ignite sectarian strife in region. The Supreme Council denounced the attempts of Iran aimed at politicizing the Haj aimed to offend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, calling on Iranian officials to refrain from such actions and attitudes, and cooperate with the official authorities in Saudi Arabia to organise the Haj season, to allow Iranian pilgrims to perform rituals.

The Supreme Council expressed its condemnation for the continuation of Iranian interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region, including Bahrain, and by supporting terrorism, training of terrorists and the smuggling of weapons, explosives and inciting sectarian strife and continuing statements at various levels to disturb security and order and stability.

The Supreme Council welcomed the condemnation by the Human Rights Council in September of the blatant and systematic violations in Syria by the Syrian political regime and its militias. With regard to Yemen, the GCC highlighted its full commitment to the unity of Yemen, the respect of its sovereignty and independence and the rejection of any interference in its internal affairs.