GCC Ministerial Council Opens Meeting in Doha

Doha, November 25 (QNA) - The 133th session of the Ministerial Council opened here today under HE the Foreign Minister Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah to prepare for the 35th summit meeting of GCC leaders. At the outset of the meeting Dr. Al-Attiyah conveyed to participants the greetings of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wished of success to the meeting. In an inaugural speech, Dr. Al-Attiyah praised the sincere and appreciated efforts exerted by the State of Kuwait under the leadership of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during the presidency of the previous session. He also thanked Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who is also the chairman of the ministerial council's previous session for the tireless efforts he made and contributed to reaching the positive and constructive decisions and recommendations that had had a great impact on promoting the joint action among the GCC member states and on strengthening its political and strategic status HE the Foreign Minister also thanked GCC Secretary-General Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, assistant secretaries and all the secretariat's staff for their sincere effort in preparing for sessions and meetings and the follow-up and implementation of its resolutions and recommendations throughout the past year. Dr. Al-Attiyah said he looks forward that during the presidency of the State of Qatar of this session further tangible achievements and results that would be reflected on the ground for the enhancement of the joint GCC drive would be accomplished to help attain its blessed targets of stability, security, stability and support of the Arab Nation's objectives in the light of the GCC leaders' orientations. The Foreign Minister noted that attention will be focused on the coming Doha summit in the light of the successive circumstances and events in the region. This will gain this ministerial meeting a particular importance and requires from us a lot of wisdom and serious work with a view to accomplishing greater achievements in the GCC march, he said. Concluding, Dr, Al-Attiyah expressed confidence that the Ministerial Council will be at the level of responsibility in order to contribute to the success of the Summit and the strengthening of GCC role in serving the interests of the Gulf peoples at the regional and international levels. For his part, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani offered his sincere gratitude to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for Doha's hosting of the 35th GCC summit, which will be held on December 9 and 10. In his speech at the opening session, Al Zayani said everyone is hoping that this edition would bring more achievements, praising the efforts that have been made in the build-up to this meeting through organization and arrangements that will contribute to the success of the meetings. He also commended the role of Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for contributing along with the ministerial council in supporting the cooperation march on all fronts as he chaired the previous edition. Al Zayani praised the Riyadh meeting that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud called, stressing that it was an indication of GCC unity and enhancement of their solidarity and cohesion. After the opening session, GCC foreign ministers continued their meeting behind closed doors. (QNA)