96th GCC Ministerial Council- Jeddah- Communiqué
Communiqué of GCC Foreign Ministers 96th SessionJeddah, 7 September 2005
Foreign ministers of The Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concluded here Tuesday evening their 96th session. The session was chaired by Bahrain's Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak AL-Khalifa, who is the current chairman of the Ministerial Council.
The delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was headed by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister.
At the end of the session, the Foreign Ministers issued the following Communique which was read by GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah.
" The Ministerial Council expressed its condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz; Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-aziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, the Royal family and the Saudi people on the death of the late King Fahd Bin Abdul-aziz.
The Ministerial Council also expressed its congratulations and best wishes to King Abdullah Bin Abdul-aziz and his trusted Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-aziz for assuming the leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It also lauded the determination of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to continue serious works to serve Islam and to support Arab and Islamic causes as well as to enhance the international peace and security and the global economic growth.
" The Ministerial Council also congratulated Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for undergoing a successful surgery and his safe return home (from abroad), wishing him good health."
It added that the Ministerial Council reviewed achievements of the joint cooperation of the GCC countries since the last session in various fields as well as progress in political and security issues at regional and international arenas.
In the sphere of economy, the Ministerial Council got acquainted with reports and minutes of the meetings of a number of Ministerial Committees relating to joint economic work.
In the field of communications, posts and information technology, the Ministerial Council was briefed on the conclusion of the Ministerial Committee's 14th session and its recommendations on a pricing regime for communications companies in GCC countries.
In the sphere of trade, the Ministerial Council was informed on the results of the mission of the trade cooperation committee with regard to trade marks and commercial fraud.
In the sphere of planning and development, The Ministerial Council was updated on the results of the Ministerial Committee in its 14th session as regards population policies, procedures and programs adopted by the GCC countries to amend the population structure, as well as prospects of issuing a report on the growth of human resources and conduct a study to establish a GCC statistics center.
In the sphere of transportation and communications, the Ministerial Council was briefed on results reached by the Ministerial Committee in its Ninth session.
The Ministerial Council also reviewed prospects of constructing a joint GCC railway; ways of overcoming difficulties faced by the transportation sector and studies on establishing a GCC Navigation Company and evaluating transportation infrastructure in GCC countries.
As regards GCC's relations with other countries and international bodies, the Ministerial Council familiarized itself with the results of the second round of negotiations between the GCC countries and China and a meeting of experts from both sides which were held in Beijing from 20 to 21 June, 2005 within the framework of the bilateral free trade negotiations. In this context, the Ministerial Council expressed its satisfaction on its outcome.
The Ministerial Council also reviewed aspects of issues relating to the welfare of human-beings and protection of environment. In this context, it reviewed the implementation of resolutions and directives issued by the Supreme Council in its 25th session relating to education.
In the sphere of protecting health of human beings and the environment from the impact of [depletion of the] Ozone layer as well as to support national, regional and international efforts within the framework of Vienna convention and Montreal protocol to ensure protection from Ozone layer, the Ministerial Council recommended adoption of an integrated and guided system to control materials that contain Ozone, referring this matter to the upcoming session of the Supreme Council.
In the defense field, the Ministerial Council got acquainted with the progress of defense cooperation activities during the past period. In this context, the Council expressed its satisfaction over steps that had been taken so far, affirming completion of all related procedures and various arrangements.
In the sphere of security coordination and cooperation, the Ministerial Council was briefed on procedures that had already been undertaken by the GCC countries and expressed its satisfaction over these procedures.
The Ministerial Council expressed its sorrow and condemnation over terror acts witnessed by a number of countries around the world. It reiterated that such criminal acts would, in fact, have the effect of enhancing further the global will to combat terrorism and promote international cooperation and coordination in eliminating terrorists and those who are behind them.
It also welcomed and re-affirmed its support for Riyadh Declaration and recommendations adopted by the International Conference on combating terrorism led by the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul-aziz to establish an international center for combating terrorism, which will positively contribute to international efforts against terrorism.
In this regard, the Ministerial Council supported efforts aimed at forming a working team to study the recommendations which had been included in the proposed declaration relating to the establishment of the Center under the supervision of the United Nations.
In the field of works of the consultative body of the GCC Supreme Council, the Ministerial Council was briefed on the views of the consultative body as regards evaluation of GCC progress during the past 23 years and its views on the phenomena of terrorism.
In the political field, the Ministerial Council congratulated Iranian President Mehmud Ahmadi Nejad on his victory in the presidential election and said it is looking ahead that the upcoming period would bring about positive developments in GCC-Iranian relations within the framework of good neighborly ties, joint interests and non-interference in internal affairs. It expressed optimism that Iran would opt for remarkable steps to enhance trust that could lead to accomplishing security and stability as well as ensuring welfare for all people in the region.
The Ministerial Council also discussed a number of important issues in regional and international arenas and reaffirmed its well-known and durable stances in this regard.
It supported the right of the United Arab Emirates' sovereignty over its three islands, namely the bigger Tunb, the smaller Tunb and Abu Musa as well as the territorial water, air space, 'Al-Jarf (continental) enclave', and the economic zone of the three islands as the 'indivisible parts of the United Arab Emirates.' The Ministerial Council expressed sorrow that contacts with Iran had failed to produce any positive results that could have led to finding a solution to the issue of these three islands and contributing to strengthening the region's security and stability. The Ministerial Council took into consideration all peaceful means that could lead to the restoration of the right of the UAE for its three islands. It invited Iran to respond to the efforts of the UAE and the international community to resolve this issue through direct negotiations or refer this to the international court of justice.
As regards the Iraqi affairs, the Ministerial Council reviewed the current events in the Iraqi arena and the deteriorating security and human situation there as a result of the escalating violence. It reaffirmed its known and permanent positions on Iraq, especially its condemnation of all criminal and terrorist acts targeting civilians, abducting innocent people, ambassadors and other members of diplomatic corps, humanitarian and religious bodies.
It supported all exerted efforts that had been aiming at bringing about Iraq's national reconciliation and ensuring participation of all factions of the Iraqi people in the political process to avoid negative results on Iraq's integrity, independence and sovereignty.
The Ministerial Council renewed its hope that the Iraqi people would be united to achieve security, stability, prosperity and the national territorial integrity as well as preserve the Arab and Islamic identity of Iraq and ensure its return as an effective member in its nation and the international community. It also expressed hope that Iraq would restore its security, stability, prosperity and would return to play its positive role as an effective member in Gulf, Arab and international arenas by committing to the international legitimacy decisions and to live in peace and harmony with its neighbors and the rest of the world.
The Ministerial Council condemned the acts of the previous Iraqi regime, resulting into the mass killings of the Iraqi people, taking of hostages and detaining a number of people from Kuwait and other countries. It urged the United Nations to forge cooperation with the Iraqi government and other concerned parties to intensify efforts to find a final solution pertaining to the return of Kuwaiti properties and national heritage items and documents that had been stolen by the former Iraqi regime during its occupation of Kuwait.
The Ministerial Council reviewed also latest events in the Palestinian territory and developments of the middle east peace process. It looked forward to the evacuation of the Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip as a step to be followed by other steps for the complete withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian lands to enable the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital. The Ministerial Council reiterated, in this regard, the adherence of the Council's states to the peace initiative presented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul-aziz at the Arab Summit held in Beirut in 2002 and adopted by the Summit to become an Arab initiative for peace in the region on the basis of the international legitimacy decisions. "This initiative
should be considered as a genuine framework for achieving a just and comprehensive peace for the cause of the Palestinians."
Warning against threats raised by an extremist Jewish group to raid Al-Aqsa mosque and attack it, the Ministerial Council affirmed that such threats are aimed at insulting feelings of the Muslims and violating the sacredness of the Holy sites. It confirmed that the just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East will not be realized unless the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital and the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab Syrian Golan Heights to the borders of the 4th June, 1967 as well as from the remaining Arab lands in the Southern Lebanon.
The Ministerial Council renewed its call on the international community to make the Middle East region free from all weapons of mass destruction, including the Gulf region, and that the international community should force Israel to join the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and submit all its nuclear installations for international inspection system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This should be considered a basic condition for any future security arrangements.
The Ministerial Council welcomed the new Lebanese government and confirmed the GCC states' keenness to support the brotherly Lebanese people politically and economically as well as Lebanon's security and stability. It expressed hope that all national factions would agree on what is good for preserving Lebanon's integrity, cohesion and prosperity.
The Ministerial Council condemned the repeated Israeli threats and attacks against Lebanon's sovereignty and independence.
It expressed its sorrow and condolences for Iraq and its people over the collapse of "Al-Emma" bridge in Iraq that led to the death of Hundreds of Iraqis.
It also expressed sorrow and condolences over the loss of lives and property caused by hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana state in the United States. The Council expressed its readiness to stand by the United States in this natural disaster in the light of the friendly ties between the GCC states and the U.S.