GCC Ministerial Council Praises Qatar Role In Palestine And Darfur

Jeddah , June 02 (QNA) - The GCC Ministerial Council praised Sunday the efforts of the State of Qatar in establishing peace and rebuilding Darfur. The council also praised Qatar's efforts in supporting Al Quds fund. The council released a statement at the end of his 127th session today, welcoming the outcomes of the International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur that was held in Doha on April 7-8. The Council praised the Arab League's decision back in March to establish a fund for Al Quds with a capital of $1 billion. They expressed their appreciation to Qatar's contribution of quarter that amount. The council also commended the visit of the Arab delegation led by HE Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani to Washington, as part of the resolutions made by the Arab League in the Doha Summit. The delegation held talks on the peace process in Palestine. The delegation also presented the Arab position on the reason why the peace talks have stalled, and how it could be revived. In addition to presenting the best way to end Israeli occupation of Arab land occupied in 1967. The council also expressed its dismay at Israel's continued aggression against the Palestinian people and Holly Islamic sanctities in Palestine. The council also condemned the intervention of Lebanese group Hezbollah in Syria. It also condemned the speech of the group's Secretary-General in May 25 2013, describing it as misleading. Following the meeting, the Ministerial Council issued the following press statement relayed by Saudi Press Agency SPA 'The Ministerial Council held the 127th session on Sunday, under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Ghanim Al-Buainain, who is also the Chairman of the current session of GCC Ministerial Council, and with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of GCC Member States and GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani. Qatar's delegation to the meeting was headed by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. The Ministerial Council reviewed the developments of joint action, expressing satisfaction over the achievements made, and stressing that efforts should be exerted to achieve further progress and development of the GCC countries and to enhance the security and stability of the region. The Ministerial Council discussed the developments of a number of political issues at international and regional levels, as follows: Joint Cooperation: Economic Affairs: The Ministerial Council was informed about the meetings of ministerial economic committees. The Ministerial Council agreed to the GCC e-government strategy document, and decided to submit it to the Supreme Council at its next session with a recommendation for approving it. The Ministerial Council also approved awarding an advisory body to prepare a long-term comprehensive strategy for water in GCC countries. Legal Affairs: The Ministerial Council approved a number of recommendations on the guiding laws and regulations issued under the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Council approved the establishment of a committee of heads of anti-corruption and integrity protection bodies in GCC countries, and agreed that the heads of supreme courts in GCC countries hold a periodical meeting. Counter-terrorism: The Ministerial Council reiterated the firm positions of GCC countries towards renouncing all forms of terrorism and extremism, whatever their motives, justifications and source, SPA reported. The Council commended the efficient and vigilant security services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in discovering two spy cells that aim at collecting information on vital and security locations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It condemned the recent terrorist bombing which targeted members of the security forces in the Kingdom of Bahrain, considering these terrorist acts as contrary to all moral and religious values. The Ministerial Council condemned terrorist bombing which occurred on 11 May 2013, targeting the town of Rihaniyya in southern Turkey on the border with Syria, and killing and injuring dozens of innocent people. The Council described these acts as contrary to all moral and religious values, stressing the need for concerted international efforts to combat terrorism. On Iranian Occupation of Three Islands of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Ministerial Council emphasized its firm position towards rejecting the Iranian occupation of UAE's three islands of Abu Mousa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs. The Ministerial Council stressed in this regard the following: - Supporting the UAE's right to sovereignty over the three islands of Abu Mousa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs as well as the territorial waters, airspace, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the three islands which are an integral part of the UAE, SPA reported. - Expressing regret that contacts with the Islamic Republic of Iran did not reach any positive results that may resolve the issue of the three islands in a way that contributes to enhancing the security and stability of the region. - Considering any practices or acts carried out by Iran on the three islands as null and void, and that such practices or acts do not change historical and legal facts that grant the UAE the right to sovereignty over its three islands. - Considering all peaceful means which lead to restoring the UAE's right to its three islands. - Inviting the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to the UAE efforts to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or resorting to the International Court of Justice. - Expressing condemnation and rejection of visits paid by the Iranian officials, particularly the recent visit by a delegation of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, to the UAE's three islands of Abu Mousa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs, stressing that this visit is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the UAE on its territories and undermines all efforts to find a peaceful solution to this issue. Relations with Iran: The Ministerial Council denounced statements by senior leaders of Iran, regarding the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people. The Ministerial Council also condemned statements by the Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, considering his statements as a blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain that contradicts the principles of Islam, international law and good neighborliness relations. The Ministerial Council condemned sending a spy plane by the Iranian regime which was found in the north of the Kingdom of Bahrain, considering this as a hostile act that reflects Iran's insistence on interfering in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and destabilizing the security and stability of the region. On Iran's Nuclear Program, the Ministerial Council expressed regret over the lack of progress in the talks which took place in Kazakhstan on 05 April 2013 between the 5+1 Group and Iran, stressing the importance of Iran's response to diplomatic efforts that aim at peacefully resolving the issue of its nuclear program in a way that ensures the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions as well as the standards and requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency and in a way that achieves security and stability in the region. On the situation in Syria, the Ministerial Council expressed grave concern at the continued deterioration of the situation in Syria, and the growing potential for their impact on the security and stability in the region, especially in light of the participation of Hezbollah militia in fighting the Syrian people. The Ministerial Council stressed the firm position of GCC countries towards calling on the international community to double efforts in order to find a solution that ends the crisis in Syria, stops the bloodshed in Syria, achieves aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people, and preserves Syria's security, stability and unity, reported SPA. The Council condemned Hezbollah's blatant interference in Syria as well as the speech of Hezbollah's secretary general on 25 May 2013 which contained fallacies that raise sedition, condemning his promise to change the equation in the region. In this regard, the GCC countries demands the Lebanese government to keep Lebanon away from the fighting in Syria. Therefore, the Ministerial Council decided to consider taking action against Hezbollah's interests in the GCC countries. The Ministerial Council welcomed the outcomes of the meeting of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces which was held in Istanbul at the end of May 2013, stressing its support for the coalition's position regarding the Geneva II Conference as well as the need to achieve the will of the brotherly Syrian people and their legitimate demands. The Council condemned the blatant Israeli attacks on the Syrian territories, calling on the UN Security Council to immediately take measures to ensure the non-recurrence of such attacks. The Ministerial Council considered such attacks as serious violation of the sovereignty of an Arab state, warning of their repercussions on the security and stability of the region. Lebanese Affairs: On the Lebanese affairs, the Ministerial Council followed-up the situation in Lebanon, congratulating MP Tammam Salam on his appointment as prime minister and wishing him all success in forming a government that translates the will of the Lebanese people and creates a secure and stable environment. The Council stressed the importance of Lebanon's commitment to the policy of self-distancing from the crisis in Syria, reiterating support for Lebanon's security, stability and national unity. On Yemen, the Ministerial Council welcomed the launch of Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference with the participation of various political parties in Yemen. The Ministerial Council praised the positive spirit overwhelming the Conference activities, hoping that the Conference will achieve aspirations of Yemeni people towards their country's construction, development and preservation of unity and stability. The Council welcomed the decisions issued by Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi within the framework of restructuring and unifying the armed forces and enhancing their role in protecting Yemen and preserving its stability, Saudi Press Agency SPA reported. On Iraq, the Ministerial Council reviewed the developments in Iraq, stressing the importance of dialogue among Iraqi parties that will lead to preserving Iraq's security, stability and unity. The Council condemned the bombings in a number of Iraqi cities, which resulted in killing many innocent people, considering such bombings as criminal acts that contradict the principles of the Islam and all human values. The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of Iraq's commitment to stop interventions of some Iraqi political parties in the internal affairs of GCC and other countries, and to respect the principles of good neighborliness in order to build confidence and enhance security and stability in the region. The Ministerial Council welcomed Iraq's cooperation in implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, lauding the understanding reached by the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait regarding a mechanism for continuing following-up prisoners of the State of Kuwait and other GCC countries in addition to returning the property and national archives to the State of Kuwait. Sudan: The Ministerial Council welcomed the outcomes of the Donors Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur, which was held in Doha on 7-8 April 2013. The Ministerial Council hailed the sincere efforts exerted by the State of Qatar in order to achieve peace, reconstruction and development in Darfur, calling upon all parties to participate positively in the efforts supporting peace in Darfur. On the situation in Myanmar The Ministerial Council condemned the brutal massacres against Muslim Rohingya citizens in Myanmar. The Ministerial Council decided to collectively move within the frameworks of the United Nations and international and regional organizations to address Rohingya tragedy.'(END)