Al Jazeera Net correspondents
12/4/2023–|Last updated: 12/4/202301:03 PM (Mecca time)
Doha – Amid a turbulent atmosphere regionally and internationally, the 44th summit of leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, in the Qatari capital, Doha.
The Gulf summit comes amid the return of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip following the end of a seven-day humanitarian truce last Friday, coinciding with an escalating Gulf and Arab position demanding an end to the war on the Strip.
The summit was preceded by a meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, chaired by the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in Doha yesterday, Sunday, where the Council discussed the files presented to the leaders’ summit, especially the situation in the Palestinian territories and the unified Gulf position towards stopping the war immediately. As well as joint Gulf cooperation files.
Following the meeting, the Qatari Foreign Minister stressed that this preparatory ministerial session is full of many joint cooperation files between the GCC countries, “which we seek to complete and submit to the Supreme Council, in order to enhance the path of the Cooperation Council, achieve the interests and hopes of our peoples and countries, and enhance the means of security and stability for our region and the world.” “.
war crimes
The Qatari Minister added that the Ministerial Council was held in light of the barbaric aggression and heinous crimes committed by the occupation forces against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by targeting civilians and infrastructure and cutting off basic services, in addition to the attempt to place the besieged Palestinian people between the hammer of genocide and the anvil of ethnic cleansing or forced displacement, all of which War crimes and crimes against humanity.
He explained that Qatar made great efforts to mediate to stop this war of revenge, and these efforts succeeded in reaching a humanitarian truce agreement in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners between the two sides. The truce allowed the entry of a larger number of relief aid convoys, indicating that Qatar will continue its efforts with all active countries to resume… The truce leads to a permanent ceasefire.
The Qatari Foreign Minister appreciated the tours of the foreign ministers of a number of Arab and Islamic countries in a number of countries around the world, and their going to the Security Council to demand that it assume its responsibilities towards stopping the war on Gaza, and forcing Israel to return to credible negotiations to achieve a just solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the resolutions of legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. Through the two-state solution.
He said that the Gulf countries are sparing no effort in actively participating to address global and regional challenges, such as Qatar currently hosting the Expo 2023 horticultural exhibition in order to search for a balanced environmental world, as well as the UAE hosting the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), which is… An important contribution to addressing this serious global challenge, and other events recently hosted by the Gulf countries.
Clear positions
For his part, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, stressed that the political positions that will be issued in the Doha statement are clear and agreed upon by all members, and that there will be many achievements in the final statement of the summit.
Al-Budaiwi added, in an interview with the Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq, that the Gulf Cooperation Council system is one of the most successful regional institutions in the world without dispute, stressing that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are linked by a common destiny, vision and one future, and that the Gulf countries seek to activate unified institutions and projects so that citizens feel… Al-Khaleeji expressed the positive results and developments of reunification and achieving common interests.
He pointed out that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries made great efforts to reduce the escalation in the Gaza Strip, praising the great role of the State of Qatar in reaching a humanitarian truce and bringing aid to the Palestinians.
He also stressed that the Cooperation Council is keen to maintain a balanced foreign policy and not interfere in the affairs of other countries, stressing also that the Council seeks to help other countries through its development arms, and works to establish relations, whether bilaterally or through the Council’s system, through cooperation and strategic partnerships with countries. And with regional institutions and organizations.
#Qena_Video |#Cooperation Council.. An extended process of integration, interconnection, and joint Gulf action#Qena #Qatar#Our_Gulf_Shared_Future#Gulf_Summit_44 pic.twitter.com/63zxOFagNG
– Qatar News Agency (@QatarNewsAgency) December 4, 2023
Unified visa
Among the most important files that the leaders of the Cooperation Council will take decisions on and of concern to the Gulf street is the unified visa project, which allows those who hold a visa from a country in the Cooperation Council or who reside in one of the six countries to freely move between their countries, as well as the railway connection between the members of the Council, for which implementation steps were taken during This year.
The Cooperation Council, which was established on May 25, 1981, includes Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman.
The 43rd Gulf Summit was held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on December 9, 2022, and discussed Gulf partnership issues and regional files, including the Palestinian file.
