GCC Ministerial Council Commends HH the Emir's Proposal on Jerusalem

Riyadh, March 04 (QNA) - The GCC Ministerial Council commended the speech of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani at the opening of the International Conference for the defense of Jerusalem held on February 26 in Doha in which HH the Emir urged for approaching the UN Security Council and urged it to issue a resolution for the formation of an international commission to investigate all actions taken by Israel, since the occupation in 1967, in Arab Jerusalem aimed at erasing its Arab and Islamic identity. In a statement at the end of 122nd GCC Ministerial Council Session here today, the Ministerial Council stressed that this approach is consistent with several previous related resolutions by the UN Security Council in this regard .. The Council Ministerial Council also urged the civil society organizations, and UNESCO to shoulder their responsibilities towards consolidation of international legitimacy on the protection of Jerusalem. The Council also praised the "Doha Declaration" signed under the patronage of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on February 6, 2012, between the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Chief of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Hamas Movement Khaled Meshaal, in an effort to achieve the Palestinian national reconciliation, expressing that this positive step would contribute to realizing were agreed upon, including the Palestinian national unity to achieve aspirations and hopes of the Palestinian people. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concluded its 122nd ordinary ministerial session at the foreign ministers level, presided over by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh this evening. Other foreign ministers of the six-nation group in addition to Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashed Al-Zayani, Secretary General of the GCC took part in the meeting. Following the meeting, a press statement on the outcome of the session was issued. The statement said the meeting was briefed on the report submitted by the expert-level panel assigned to study and recommend on the proposal submitted at the former GCC summit by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to upgrade the GCC from the phase of cooperation into union, Saudi Press Agency reported. The report, read by the panel's Chairman Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban included the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's vision on ways to implement the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in this regard. The ministers instructed the panel to proceed with its work and prepare its recommendations to be submitted at the GCC forthcoming consultative summit. Reviewing a number of reports on the GCC domestic joint work developments, the Council expressed satisfaction over the achievements reached in all fields. The GCC Foreign Ministers also discussed a number of international and regional political and economic issues as follows: the meeting was briefed on the minutes of the 91st meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee held in October 2011, including proposals from Kuwait and UAE on supervision and control of budgets of specialized organizations within the GCC. Also reviewed was the outcome of the 30th meeting of the Petroleum Cooperation Committee held in December 2011. The activities and achievements of the GCC Standards Commission were also studied by the foreign ministers. On humanitarian and environmental affairs, the meeting was also briefed on the efforts exerted by the 72nd conference of GCC Health Ministers held in Muscat in January 2012. Discussing a proposal submitted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the coordination of efforts, exchange of experiences among the bodies in charge of endowments affairs in the GCC member countries, the meeting agreed that periodical meetings for ministers in charge of endowments in the GCC countries were held. On terror combat, the conference reaffirmed its member states' firm position rejecting violence and extremism in all its forms and whatever their incentives, excuses or sources. The ministers lauded the efforts exerted by the GCC member countries to take the executive measures to activate the relevant decisions in this field, reaffirming the GCC support for any regional or international efforts aiming at terror combat. On the political arena, the meeting commented on the relations with Iran. The Ministerial Council expressed profound sorrow for the continuation of Iran's interference in domestic affairs of the GCC member countries, demanding the neighboring country to desist from violating the sovereignty and independence of some member countries and instead abide by the policies and practices of absolute commitment to the principles of good neighborhood, mutual respect for international norms, laws and charters, solve difference through peaceful means and direct dialogue, non-use of force or threaten to use it. On the Iranian nuclear file, the meeting said it was following with deep concern the developments of that matter, confirming the importance of Iran's commitment to show absolute cooperation with the International Atomic energy , noting that it was reiterating its former stance namely the importance of being committed to the principles of international legitimacy , solving disputes through peaceful means, making the Middle East, including the Arab Gulf region, comprehensive mass destruction and nuclear weapons free area. The Council confirmed the right of the region's countries in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within the framework and supervision of the International Agreement on Atomic Energy, noting the importance of Israel's joining the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons and making its nuclear facilities subject to international inspection. The GCC Ministerial Council called on Iraq to quickly identify remains of prisoners and mission of Kuwait and third-country nationals, return state of Kuwait's national archive and pay compensations for Iraqi farmers. It also urged Iraq to complete maintenance of border signs with Kuwait in line with UN resolution 833 and finalize payment of compensations for the Iraqi farmers in accordance with UN resolution 899. Iraq should comply with all UN resolutions related to the former regime's invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91, the statement added The foreign ministers urged the UN and relevant organizations to contribute to helping Iraq honor its international obligations. The Council reasserted commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial unity of Iraq. Iraq, the Council added, should build confidence with neighboring countries on the basis of good neighborliness and non-interference in internal affairs. The GCC foreign ministers called on all parties in Iraq to join hands to achieve national conciliation in a drive to honor aspirations of the Iraqi people and building a country that would be stable, safe, respects human rights and based on supremacy of law. On Yemen, the Council lauded the success of the presidential elections held in Yemen on the 21st of February 2012 upon the GCC political initiative, congratulating Abdrabbou Mansour Hadi of winning the elections and wishing him every success. The GCC also welcomed the call of the new president for Yemeni national dialogue according to the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism. It also welcomed the measures enforced in Yemen to bring about security and stability all over the country. The statement also welcomed the results of the consultative meeting on Yemen held at the GCC Secretariat General in Riyadh on February 13, 2012, the convening of a meeting designed to discuss the humanitarian needs in Yemen to be held on 21st of March 2012 at the Secretariat General in Riyadh and the Yemen Friends Conference scheduled for the Saudi capital of Riyadh from 23-24 April 2012. On Sudan, the Ministerial Council welcomed the signing of the Republics of Sudan and Southern Sudan, "Non-Aggression Pact" with regard to their border dispute, under the auspices of the African mediation negotiations in Addis Ababa, and it expressed hope that pending and differences issues would be resolved peacefully. The Ministerial Council also welcomed the results of the "London Conference on Somalia," and stressed the need to achieve political stability in that country, and called for the cooperation of the international community to combat terrorism, piracy, famine, and expressed the hope that the application of what has been agreed upon, at the conference would be a step to put an end to the suffering of Somali people. It also stressed the need to support development in Somalia and to promote the economic and living conditions for its people. The 122nd GCC Ministerial Council session was presided over by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, Chairman of the current session with the participation of GCC States Foreign Ministers and HE GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Qatar delegation to the meeting was headed by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah.(END)