Manama: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries support Egypt in all areas under the leadership of President Abdul Fattah Al Sisi, the GCC secretary general has said.
Such support was clear in the Riyadh Agreement and in the Complementary Riyadh Agreement that were endorsed by their majesties and highness the leaders of the GCC countries, Abdul Lateef Al Zayani said in a statement issued late on Thursday evening. The two agreements were issued last year to boost common approaches and positions by the six GCC members.
The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The leaders recognise the importance of cohesion and integration with Egypt, considering that the security and stability of Egypt represent the security and stability of the Gulf states, and particularly in light of delicate and sensitive conditions in the region and in the world that requires the close interconnection between all countries, Al Zayani said.
The Secretary General added that the GCC countries stood fully with Egypt and its people in the fight against terrorism and in the protection of citizens both at home and abroad.
The GCC countries also support all military actions taken by Egypt against terrorist groups in Libya, following the barbaric act carried out by the Daesh terrorist group against 21 Egyptians in Libya, Al Zayani said.
He stressed in his statement that it was the inherent right of any state to maintain its security and independence and the safety of its citizens.
In a statement issued earlier in the day, Al Zayani rejected charges levelled by the Egyptian permanent representative to the Arab League Tariq Adel that Qatar supported terrorism.
Adel reportedly accused Qatar of supporting terrorism after Doha’s representative expressed reservations over a clause in a communiqué welcoming Cairo’s air strikes on targets in Libya.
Qatar on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Egypt “for consultations” following Adel’s remarks.
In his first statement, Al Zayani described the Egyptian charges as “false accusations that challenge facts and ignore the sincere efforts exerted by Qatar alongside the GCC states in the fight against terrorism and extremism at all levels and in supporting joint Arab action in all Arab and international forums.”
Al Zayani said that “such statements do not help to consolidate Arab solidarity at a time when the Arab countries face great challenges that threaten their security, stability and sovereignty.”
Pan-Arab daily Al Sharq Al Awsat attributed the differences in the two statements carried by official Gulf media to a report that the first statement was issued without consulting the GCC member states.
The daily said that sources reported that some countries said they were not happy with the drafting of the statement issued without prior consultations with them.
The differences between the two statements reflected the divergences in the views towards the tension that emerged between Egypt and Qatar at the Arab League meeting, the sources told the daily.
Diplomats said that the second statement reflected the real position of the GCC states and their strategic relations with Egypt.
