132nd GCC Ministerial Council session issues communiqué

JEDDAH: Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States (GCC) have called for uprooting all forms of terrorism and extremism, stressing that the tolerance and co-existence are part of its internal and foreign policy. The GCC called for concerted regional and international efforts on counter-terrorism to bring all perpetrators to book. It reiterated its rejection of the occupation of three U.A.E. islands: Tunb Greater, Tunb Lesser and Abu Musa by Iran. The GCC supports the U.A.E. sovereignty over the three islands, regional waters, air, continental shelf, economic zone of the three islands, being part of the U.A.E.. The GCC Ministerial Council closing statement called on Iran to heed calls of the U.A.E. to settle the issue amicably through either direct talks or resorting to the International Court of Justice. It stressed the importance of relations between the GCC states and Iran based on mutual respect of sovereignty of states in the region, non-interference in internal affairs of the GCC states, and eschew use of force and threats. The Ministerial Council expressed hopes that the extension of 5+1 with Iran talks on 24th November, would lead to comprehensive deal between the two sides. It called for making the GCC and the Middle East free from weapons of mass destruction. Regarding the situation in Syria, the Ministerial Council called for preserving the Syrian sovereignty, its unity, and the need for implementing the Geneva Agreement 1, which calls for power transition. It expressed good wishes for success of Special UN Envoy on Syria, Staffan Domingo de Mistura, calling for removal of all obstacles to get the relief aid to the civilian population. It welcomed the truce reached on 26th August between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, brokered by Egypt, thanking the Egyptian authorities for their peaceful regional and international efforts. The GCC Ministerial Council closing statement called on delivery of relief aid to Gaza Strip, hoping that the truce would put an end to the suffering of Palestinian people and bring about final and just peace. It hold Israel accountable about heinous war crimes committed against the Palestinian people, as well as huge destruction of the infrastructure in Gaza Strip. Regarding Yemen, it welcomed the call of Yemeni President Abdou Rabu Mansour Hadi for all political and social forces of Yemen to embrace the national reconciliation based on the resolutions of the national dialogue. The Ministerial Council called for completing the transitional period as per the GCC Initiative and its executive mechanism, in a way that realises aspirations of Yemeni people, and ensures unity, security and stability of Yemen. On Iraq, the Council congratulated the new Iraq leadership, hoping that the formation of national unity new government with participation of all political spectrum in the political process will safeguard the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraq, and restore its position in the Arab world. It backed the UN Security Council no. 2107/ 2013 on referral of the files of prisoners of war, unaccounted for people and recovery of Kuwait properties to the UNAMI, the UN assistance Mission to Iraq, to follow up these issues. Regarding Libya, the Council called on all political parties to back the elected constitutional and legislative institutions, hoping for implementation of plan presented by the Libyan House of Representatives to stop violence and resume the political process. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/arab/1395269069238.html