GCC statement on ‘new cooperation mechanism’

Riyadh: Foreign ministers of the GCC countries held a meeting on Thursday evening at the Riyadh Airbase in Saudi Arabia.

UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the meeting along with his GCC counterparts.

A statement was released just before midnight after the meeting concluded.

Stemming from the strong and historic bonds and common destiny among the GCC countries and their keenness to further their progress, the foreign ministers of the GCC countries on Thursday, took an overall review of the procedures in place pertaining to foreign and security policies. It was agreed to adopt mechanisms to guarantee a collective framework and to ensure that policies of any of the GCC countries would not affect interests, security and stability of the countries or undermine their sovereignty, the statement said.

In this regard, Their Highnesses and Excellencies have confirmed their respective countries’ agreement on the implementation mechanism of the Riyadh Document, which is based on the principles of the GCC statute, it said.

The GCC foreign ministers hailed this historic achievement which as a result of 33 years of hard work to realise the interests of the peoples in the member states, to pave the way for wider horizons of security and stability, and to boost member states’ preparations for the challenges ahead, under a strong and coherent entity, the statement said.

They also praised the role played by the State of Kuwait, under the leadership of Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, to reach the aspired outcome.

Their Highnesses and Excellencies agreed the importance of proper fulfilment of the commitments undertaken, in order to safeguard the achievements and to move forward — by the grace of Allah — into a new phase of cohesion to surpass difficulties and challenges and to meet aspirations of the peoples of the member states.