“We took note of the agreement signed by the Yemeni government and Transitional Council.” Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Sabah

06 Dec 2019

(See translation in Arabic section)

Kuwait - M E Times Int'l: The 40th GCC summit concluded in Riyadh on  Tuesday with Secretary General Abdulatif Al-Zayani reading the 'Riyadh Declaration'. It emphasised the necessity to protect maritime of the Arabian Gulf from any threats, as the council notes measures taken by Saudi Arabia to protect its oil facilities, which stems from the Kingdom's keenness for a stable oil market, both for producing and consuming countries. "Any aggression to a GCC Member State is an aggression on all member states," the Declaration stressed. It also underlined the importance of economic unity and customs integration, which would serve the Gulf's political and security co-ordination in light of international insecurity. The vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, laid the foundations for the integration system among GCC countries in all fields, which requires finalised procedures to guarantee intactness of member states sovereignty and safety of its territorial waters, as well as economic areas in accordance with the joint defence treaty, the Declaration pointed out.

IN the Saudi capital, the GCC Supreme Council’s 40th session amidst critical and complex regional and global circumstances addressed Iran and the situation in Yemen, as well as the Gulf maritime safety and security are among the most key issues to be addressed during the session.

Kuwait remains "optimistic" in its bid to support resolving the dispute between Gulf neighbors, is what Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said, adding that reconciliation efforts are looking "positive." "We are not at all concerned about the environment that is accompanying the efforts to end the dispute, and we are optimistic that this dispute will be something of the past in the near future," the Kuwaiti official said.

Al-Jarallah also headed Kuwait's delegation to the GCC foreign ministers 'in camera' 145th preparatory meeting in Riyadh, which concluded by forwarding recommendation to the GCC Supreme Council session.

On his part, GCC Secretary General Abdulatif Al-Zayani said that holding the 40th summit is "clear evidence" of the leaders' keenness on preserving the bloc's intactness. His remarks came after being received by King Salman of Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia .

On the summit's agenda, he said it is packed with political, economic, defense-related and legal issues and items, as well as discussions over recent regional and international developments.

The common GCC market, the customs' union, the monetary union, the electricity grid and authorities of economic, developmental and judicial affairs are among the major achievements attained throughout the Council's history, Al-Zayani noted. Pan-GCC trade volume reached US$147 billion in 2018, compared to US$6 billion in 2003.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is heading the State of Kuwait's delegation to the GCC Supreme Council 40th session.

GCC leaders laud Kuwait Amir

GCC leaders laud devoted efforts of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to mend the Gulf rift, Secretary General Abdulatif A-Zayani said.

His remarks came during a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan at the conclusion of the 40th Gulf summit here. "The Supreme Council expressed support for those efforts and the significance for them to continue," a statement echoed by the Saudi top diplomat, who added that the "four countries" support His Highness the Amir's efforts in this regard.

Al-Zayani voiced the GCC's keenness on unity among its members, with the mutual goal of achieving more coordination and collaboration on all levels.

He pointed to the Supreme Council leaders' affirmation of the necessity of implementing all decisions and agreements concluded within the framework of the GCC and commitment to its contents, indicating that the Supreme Council expressed satisfaction over progress made in implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz to enhance Gulf joint action.

Al-Zayani also noted that the Supreme Council adopted the recommendations of the Joint Defense Council at its 16th session, blessing the establishment of the Gulf Academy for Defense and Security Studies and the adoption of its financial budget, as well as welcoming the opening of the official headquarters of the International Alliance for the Protection and the Safety of Maritime Navigation.

The Council also adopted the recommendations of the interior ministers at their 36th meeting, and blessed the holding of the joint security exercise 'Arab Gulf Security 2' in the UAE, next year, he said.

Al-Zayani indicated that the Supreme Council welcomed the holding of the GCC 41st session in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and approved the nomination of  Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, to take over the position of the Secretary General of the GCC, as of April 1, 2020.

The current GCC chief Abdulatif Al-Zayani (Bahrain) is expected to step down is 2020.

Constructive steps - Kuwaiti Amir

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Sabah voiced satisfaction with the positive and constructive steps taken so far in the context of efforts to forget the past.

Addressing the GCC gathering in Riyadh, His Highness the Amir said that the 40th GCC session, held in a favorable atmosphere, reflects resolve to adopt unified positions and commitment to Gulf unity.

He voiced optimism that the  meeting would come up with resolutions and recommendations that could undoubtedly contribute to promoting the Gulf march and fulfilling the ambitions.

He stressed that the recent Gulf sports event in Qatar and today's event are clear-cut signs of common determination to ensure Gulf unity and maintain gains and accomplishments.

In this context, His Highness the Amir congratulated Bahrain on winning the 24th Gulf Cup, wishing it more progress and success.

His Highness the Amir added that he has always called for addressing recent threats to regional security and stability in a calm and wise mode and through dialogue.

"Due to this escalation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been hit by dreadful attacks which we condemned and denounced. We have also voiced support to our brothers in defending their security and stability," he said.

He cited Saudi Arabia's G20 presidency, the UAE's hosting of Expo 2020 and Qatar's organising of the World Cup 2022 as a source of pride to the Gulf people, and a sign of world appreciation to and confidence in the GCC countries.

At the Arab level, His Highness the Amir said: "We took note of the agreement signed by the Yemeni government and Transitional Council under the sponsorship and with the praiseworthy effort of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." He hailed the Riyadh agreement as a gateway to the aspired peace process in Yemen.

Concerning Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and Algeria, His Highness the Amir hoped that they would overcome their current difficult and painful circumstances and restore security and stability.

He also congratulated the Tunisian people on their recent successful presidential elections, voicing heartfelt greetings to President Kais Saied.

Al-Hajraf the new Secretary General of GCC

Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf of Kuwait was confirmed as the incoming GCC secretary general; the second Kuwaiti to be so since the bloc's inception in 1981.

According to his biography, Al-Hajraf has a vast experience in public and private sector management, education, and financial consulting.

Prior to his appointment, he served as Kuwait's chief regulator of marketable securities in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Managing Director of the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA) from 2014 to 2017.

Sultanate delegation

Oman’s  delegation was led by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers on behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. The GCC leaders discussed a range of important topics to enhance cooperation and integrity among the member states in political, defence, security, economic and social fields. King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for his efforts in the success of Council’s deliberations.

King Salman affirmed that the Council, since its establishment, managed to bypass the crises in the region. He pointed out that the region witnessed situations and challenges that require collaboration of efforts to face them.

HH Sayyid Fahd said in a statement, “On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, it is my honour to lead the Sultanate’s delegation in the 40th Summit of the GCC Leaders being held in Riyadh and to convey greetings of His Majesty along with his good wishes of success to the GCC leaders and their representatives to achieve the prospective goals”. HH Sayyid Fahd said, “The current stage witnesses many developments that shadowed the regional and international arenas.

The Sultanate of Oman expresses its utmost appreciation to the good efforts exerted for convergence of views, coordination of stances among states of the region to reach unified visions in confronting the challenges to achieve aspirations of the GCC peoples towards better future where stability and security prevail. “The Gulf Cooperation Council, since its establishment in 1981 till now, has made many achievements in economic, scientific and cultural fields, which require further endeavours to preserve such accomplishments through constant development at all sectors that target upgrading growth rates in a manner that contributes to maintaining the outstanding position achieved by the Council nowadays”.

Sayyid Fahd affirmed, “The Sultanate of Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, affirms its support to the march of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as its constant endeavour to coordinate with all member states to enhance further rapprochement and preserve the supreme interests of the GCC states. While the Sultanate expresses gratitude to Saudi Arabia, its leadership, government and people, it appeals to Allah the Almighty to grant the brotherly Saudi people and GCC people further welfare, progress and prosperity”.