138th GCC Ministerial Council Session concludes in Riyadh

09 : 03 PM - 09/03/2016 Manama, Mar 9 (BNA): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, took part today in the 138 Session of the GCC Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In a final statement, the Ministerial Council paid tribute to the security forces of the Kingdom of Bahrain for thwarting a terrorist plot last January and arresting the members of the organization which was backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the terrorist group of Hezbollah and planning to carry out dangerous terrorist attacks in the country. The Statement expressed utter rejection and condemnation of Iran’s continued interferences in the domestic affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, establishment of terrorist groups, backed by the revolutionary guards and Hezbollah, supporting and training terrorists, providing them with smuggled arms and explosives, igniting confessional feud and continuing to issue stirring statements at all levels to shake the Kingdom’s security and stability. The statement affirmed that all such practices are, according to the United Nations conventions and the provisions of international law, in clear contradiction with the principles of neighborliness and non-interference in internal affairs of other states. Furthermore, the Ministerial Council affirmed anew its support for the GCC countries’ recent decision that labeled Hezbollah and all its leaders, factions and organizations as terrorists and affirmed that the GCC states shall continue to combat the terrorist Daesh or so-called Islamic State through the US-led International Coalition Against Daesh and through constant support of the efforts being exerted regionally and internationally to combat terrorist groups and root out their ideas. Regarding the Yemeni issue, the Ministerial council reiterated full commitment of the GCC States to Yemen’s unity and their respect for its sovereignty and independence as well as their renunciation of any interference in its internal affairs, asserting the importance of a political solution in accordance with the GCC initiative and its implementation mechanisms and the outputs of the Yemeni Comprehensive National Dialogue, the Riyadh Conference and the unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2216. The Council welcomed the opening of the GCC Maritime Operations Center (MOC) in the Kingdom of Bahrain to further consolidate military cooperation among the member states. Moreover, the meeting reviewed the work progress in implementing the viewpoint of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which aims to cement GCC joint action. The Council was also briefed on the outcome of the consultations concerning the implementation of the decision of the Supreme Council in its 36th Session with regard to the proposal of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, Late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on the need to move with the GCC from the phase of cooperation to the phase of union. The Council hailed the military exercise "North Thunder", held under the command of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Saudi territories in February 2016, with the participation of the Peninsula Shield forces and forces from 20 brotherly and friendly Arab and Islamic countries, saying that such collaboration is a model in joint solidarity towards warding off dangers and confronting the challenges facing the region and achieving common interests of the Arab and Islamic nations and consolidating their solidarity and cooperation. Regarding Lebanon, the Council expressed support for the decision taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reconsider its relations with the Republic of Lebanon and to halt its aids, intended to arm the Lebanese army and internal security forces, calling on the Lebanese government to return Lebanon to its Arab environment and steer it away from the Hezbollah-fostered Iranian influences affirming, at the meantime, unflinching support for the brotherly Lebanese people and their right to live in a safe, stable and fully sovereign state. The Council also discussed the most important issues and the latest developments on the regional and international arenas including the Iranian occupation of the UAE Islands, the Iranian nuclear programme, the Palestinian cause and the crises in Syria and Iraq. Also held in Riyadh today was the 5th Joint Ministerial Council between the GCC Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister. (Courtesy of MoFA)