Riyadh: The Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) praised Qatar’s success in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the positive impact it has on the human legacy and its civilizational, cultural, and intellectual rapprochement among world peoples; in addition to denouncing the malicious media campaigns against Qatar.
This came in the final communique issued by the GCC Supreme Council in its 43rd session, in which Their Majesties, Highnesses, and Excellencies leaders and heads of delegates of the GCC countries met at King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday.
The council also expressed its welcome and support for Qatar to hold the second part of the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) on March 5 - 9, 2023, at the level of heads of state and government.
The Supreme Council expressed its welcome of Qatar’s presidency to its 44th session.
The Supreme Council thanked Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his presidency of the Supreme Council’s meeting at its 43rd session, expressing its appreciation for the keenness and interest included in his opening speech to activate the process of cooperation between the GCC countries.
The Supreme Council also expressed its sincere appreciation and gratitude for the great, honest, and profound efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, and his esteemed government, during Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the 43rd session, and the accomplished steps and achievements.
The Supreme Council commended the outcomes of the Gulf-American Summit, held in Jeddah on July 16, 2022, within the strategic partnership between the GCC Council and the US.
The Supreme Council also commended the outcomes of the Jeddah Security and Development Summit between the GCC countries, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and the US, and valued its contribution to enhancing the security and stability in the region and achieving prosperity for its people.
The Supreme Council also welcomed the convening of the Riyadh Gulf-China Summit for Cooperation and Development and the Riyadh Arab-China Summit for Cooperation and Development on December 9, 2022, looking forward to their contribution to strengthening cooperation and strategic partnerships with the Chinese side to achieve common interests.
The Supreme Council stressed its support for the ‘OPEC+ decisions aimed at achieving balance in oil markets, promoting the prosperity and welfare of the world’s and region’s peoples, and supporting the growth of the global economy.
The Supreme Council affirmed its keenness on the strength and cohesion of the GCC, the unity of its member states, and achieving more coordination, integration, and interdependence in all fields, in a way that fulfils the aspirations of the citizens of the GCC countries, stressing that the Council’s countries stand together in the face of any threat to any of the GCC countries.
The Supreme Council reviewed the developments of the joint Gulf work, the work program of the GCC Economic and Development Affairs Authority, noting the importance of doubling the efforts to achieve economic unity among the GCC member states.
The Supreme Council approved the general framework of the strategic plan for joint media cooperation for the countries of the Cooperation Council 2023-2030, the charter for the preservation of urban heritage in member countries, and the general framework of the Gulf strategy for tourism 2023-2030.
The Supreme Council affirmed the adoption of the basic pillars of energy transitions (energy security, economic development, and climate change), by continuing with sustainable investments in hydrocarbon sources, adopting the circular carbon economy approach as an integrated and comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges arising from greenhouse gas emissions.
The Supreme Council called for speeding up the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations, and for the start of new free trade negotiations in accordance with the priorities of GCC states, in order to strengthen the economic relations of the GCC with countries and international blocs in pursuit of common trade and investment interests.
The Supreme Council approved the decisions of the Joint Defense Council at its 19th session, regarding military cooperation between GCC countries, and stressed the importance of strengthening joint military action to achieve collective security for GCC countries.
The Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf renewed the commitment of its members to maintaining stability and security in the region, supporting the prosperity of their peoples, and strengthen the Council’s relations with brotherly and friendly countries and regional and international organizations.
The Supreme Council also affirmed its firm stances against terrorism and extremism, regardless of its source. The council expressed its rejection of all forms of terrorism and extremism, as well as its justifications.
On the Palestinian cause, the Supreme Council reaffirmed its firm positions on the centrality of the Palestinian cause, its support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all the Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Supreme Council also affirmed its firm positions and decisions regarding relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the need for its adherence to the basic foundations and principles based on the Charter of the United Nations and the charters of international law, the principles of good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means, and non-use of force. Or the threat of it, and renunciation of sectarianism.
The Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf praised the outcomes of the comprehensive Yemeni-Yemeni consultations that were held under the auspices of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, during the period from March 29 to April 7, 2022, and reached an agreement between the Yemeni brothers on a road map and effective mechanisms towards strengthening unity and restoring security, stability in Yemen.
The Supreme Council praised the announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of a package of vital development projects to support the Republic of Yemen.
On Iraq, the Council affirmed its firm positions and decisions towards brotherly Iraq, and support for existing efforts to combat terrorism and achieve security and stability in Iraq, stressing the importance of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, its Arab-Islamic identity, social fabric, national unity, and support in its confrontation with terrorist and armed militias.
The Supreme Council affirmed its firm positions towards preserving the territorial integrity of the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic and respecting its independence and its sovereignty over its territories, as well as rejecting regional interference in its internal affairs.
The Council stressed the GCC’s firm positions towards the brotherly Lebanese people, stressing its continuous support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability, and for the Lebanese Armed Forces, who protect its borders and resist the threats of extremist and terrorist groups.
On the Libyan issue, the Supreme Council expressed concern about the outbreak of repeated armed clashes in the Libyan territories. The council called for adopting political dialogue to resolve differences.
The Council welcomed the joint declaration of the Sudan Political Framework Agreement of December 5, defining constitutional arrangements to guide Sudan through a transitional period. Regarding the Somali issue, the council affirmed the support of the Federal Republic of Somalia in order to consolidate the foundations of security and stability.
With regard to the Afghan crisis, the Supreme Council stressed the importance of restoring security and stability in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and reaching a consensual political solution that takes into account the interests of all components of the Afghan people.
On the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the Supreme Council stressed that the GCC position on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis is based on the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. The council reiterated its support for mediation efforts to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, a cease-fire, and a political solution to the crisis.
The Supreme Council approved the State of Kuwait’s desire to retain the position of Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf for a second term, starting from the end of the current term of HE the Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al Hajraf on January 31, 2023, provided that the Ministerial Council follows up on the nomination of the State of Kuwait for its new candidate to fill the position.
