GCC denies aiding terror, backs Qatar on 2022 Cup
riyadh — The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday rejected accusations that some members of the council back terrorism, reaffirming that the bloc renounces extremism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterating its active participation in the global campaign to fight Daesh.
This statement was issued at the end of the of the GCC foreign ministers meeting in Riyadh. The UAE delegation to the meeting was headed by Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The session was held under the chairmanship of Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah with participation of the GCC foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
The ministers hit out at the “hateful campaign” directed against Qatar’s controversial hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar’s neighbours affirmed their full support for the tournament, which would be the first World Cup hosted in the Middle East.
“The GCC countries stand with Qatar in solidarity and with full support to the hosting of this International sporting event, a hosting that Qatar has won with great merit and through a honest competition as testified by everybody.”
The council stressed the GCC commitment to fight the ideology feeding terrorist groups, stressing that Islam is innocent. The council also stated that tolerance and coexistence among nations and peoples are among the foundations of internal and external policy of the GCC countries, adding that the member states stand against terrorist threats facing the region and the world.
The ministers condemned the brutal and heinous criminal acts committed by all terrorist organisations, including the Daesh against innocent people, stressing that the escalation of violence threatens regional and international security.
The council also condemned accusations of the Swedish foreign minister against Saudi Arabia, stating that the accusations are contrary to all international norms and conventions and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of the country.
The council renewed its stance with the UAE against the Iranian occupation of three islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs. The council expressed support to UAE’s right of sovereignty on the islands.
The session stressed that any Iranian resolution or action on the islands will not change the legal or historical facts that indicate UAE’s Sovereignty.
The ministers called upon Iran to respond to the United Arab Emirates efforts to settle the issue through direct negotiations or resorting to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
They stressed the importance of making the Arabian Gulf and Middle East free of all kinds of weapons of mass destructions, including nuclear weapons. The council confirmed a right of each country to use nuclear energy peacefully.
The Ministerial Council hoped that negotiations between (5+1) countries and Iran regarding Iran’s Nuclear Programme would lead to political agreement that ensures peacefulness of the Iran’s Nuclear Programme which takes into consideration the GCC environment concerns.
Regarding situation in the Palestinian territories and the developments of the Arab-Israeli conflicts, the Ministerial Council stated that the comprehensive and just peace will not prevail unless with full withdrawal of Israel from the Arab lands it had occupied in 1967, and setting up of sovereign and independent Palestinian state, whose capital will be eastern Jerusalem in accordance with the international resolutions in this respect and the Arab Peace Initiative.
About Yemen, the ministers welcomed the resolutions of the Riyadh Conference to rescue Yemen and build the federal state in accordance with the GCC initiative, resolutions of the national dialogue and the UN Security Council resolution No. 2216 on restoration of the legitimacy. They also commended the donation of $274 million by Saudi Arabia to fund the UN humanitarian activities in Yemen. —