GCC states eager to achieve integration

Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah reiterated on Wednesday the eagerness of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to meet the aspirations of their peoples for a real unity and full integration. "This blessed march will go ahead towards the full implementation of the GCC leaders directives of making more achievements in bolstering joint action, " Kuwaiti Minister said at the 129th session of GCC foreign ministers council, kicked off here Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming 34th GCC Summit early next month. "The implementation of our leaders' directives materializes our people aspirations and hopes." He went on to say that the GCC people see an historic necessity in forging ahead the GCC joint action to continue states building process and help achieve sustainable development. "We hope this meeting would help boost political coordination and economic integration among GCC states," Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said. He asserted the integration is importation for the GCC states to retain their security and stability. The Minister noted that the major political, security and economic upheavals which several Arab countries have undergone in the past years, obliges GCC states to exert more efforts to protect their stability, revive their economies and help other Arab countries achieve the same goals. He stressed the need to expand cooperation with brotherly and friendly countries to face the growing challenges and the expected consequences of the recent developments. With regard to the Syrian crisis, the Kuwaiti top diplomat regretted the continued bloodshed, destruction and displacement of Syrian civilians. He reiterated the GCC strong condemnation of the heinous crimes committed against tens of thousands of Syrians. The FM urged the international community to take action to stop bloodshed in Syria and to bring criminals to justice. He urged world to help secure access of humanitarian aid to the internally displaced Syrians in order to alleviate their sufferings and to help the countries which host their Syrian refugees. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled expressed Kuwait's full solidarity with Syrian people and refugees in their plight. He underlined that Kuwait is committed to do all in power to help Syrian people. He recalled His Highness the Amir of Kuwait's initiative to host the first international conference of Syria donors in January 2013, which raised USD 1.5 billion in aid pledges including USD 300 million from Kuwait. He added that Kuwait will host the second conference of donors early next year. He stressed the need to mobilize the world to help prove the second Geneva Conference on Syria, planned January 22, to prove successful and end up with a comprehensive agreement to end the bloody conflict and meet the aspirations of Syrian people. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled expressed great appreciations of Egypt's stances of Gulf causes over history. He stated that the GCC countries' are fully committed to help the most populous Arab country safely pass the currently critical phase of its history and restore its leading and historic role in the region. Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled pointed out that the Palestinian cause is a top priority for the GCC foreign policy. He asserted the need for a comprehensive agreement to resolve the Palestinian cause based on the two-state solution. Regarding the recent nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the world major powers, the Minister said the GCC countries have closely monitored Geneva talks and welcomed its outcome. He urged Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to show commitment towards the application of the IAEA safeguards. On Yemen, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said that the GCC countries greatly support the Yemeni government's efforts to restore security and stability as well as to implement the GCC-brokered power transition deal. He also welcomed the outcome of the Yemeni national dialogue, and urged the international community to offer all support to Yemen