The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States (GCC) concluded on Thursday its preparatory meeting for the Consultative Summit of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries, to be held in Riyadh on 5th May.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, participated in the meeting, held at the Air Base in Riyadh and chaired by Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Qatar's Foreign Minister and Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council. The GCC Secretary General, Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, also attended the meeting.

Al-Zayani said in a statement after the meeting that the GCC foreign ministers discussed the GCC work besides regional and international developments. He added that they submitted their recommendations to the GCC leaders in this respect.

He added that the GCC foreign ministers congratulated His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz on his appointment as Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. They also extended their congratulations to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on his appointment by the King of Saudi Arabia as a Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence.

Al-Zayani said that the GCC foreign ministers also welcomed the appointment of Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir as Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, noting that "we look forward to his effective role to advance the GCC process."

Regarding Yemen's affairs, the GCC secretary-general pointed out that the GCC foreign ministers praised the achievements of Operation Decisive Storm and the commencement of the Operation Restoring Hope in response to the request of Yemen's President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, in order to strengthen the constitutional legitimacy and resumption of the political process in Yemen, in accordance to the GCC initiative, its executive mechanisms, outputs of the national dialogue and the UN Security Council resolutions in this respect.

He noted that the GCC foreign ministers welcomed the appointment of the President of Republic of Yemen, of Khaled Bahah, as the country's Prime Minister, and wished him success in discharging his new duties. Al-Zayani added that the ministers emphasised their support for the tireless efforts undertaken by the legitimate government of Yemen to hold a conference under the umbrella of the General Secretariat of the GCC in Riyadh, to be attended by all parties and components of Yemen backing the legitimacy, security and stability of the country.

Al- Zayani said they stressed the support of the GCC states to the urgent measures taken by the Government of Yemen to address difficult and serious humanitarian situation caused by the irresponsible practices of the Houthi militants, praising the humanitarian assistance provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the GCC states.

He added that they called for the international community to speed up efforts to provide more humanitarian aid to Yemen.

The GCC secretary-general said the ministers appreciated the issuance of UN Security Council resolution No. 2216 under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, calling for its full implementation to restore security and stability to Yemen and the region. They also welcomed the appointment of Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Yemen. The GCC foreign ministers expressed their support to the new envoy to implement the resolution.

On the Iranian nuclear file, Al-Zayani stated that the ministers reviewed the developments of the P5+1 negotiations with Iran, and stressed that the initial framework agreement, which was reached in Lausanne, would lead to a final comprehensive agreement that would contribute towards strengthening the region's security and stability, and ensure a peaceful Iranian nuclear programme under full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in line with all international standards that address the environmental concerns of the GCC countries.
Source: WAM