GCC Emergency Summit Kicks Off In Makkah, UPDATE

The emergency Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, Summit kicked off on Thursday at Safa Palace in Makkah under chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi of Saudi Arabia

MAKKAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 31st May, 2019) The emergency Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, Summit kicked off on Thursday at Safa Palace in Makkah under chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saudi of Saudi Arabia.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, received Their Highnesses leaders of the GCC states delegations.

King Salman received His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Advisor to Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Sultanate of Oman; Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Qatari Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

In his keynote address, King Salman said that the summit is taking place in the light of the direct challenges that threaten regional and international security and stability.

He noted Iran's actions threatened international maritime trade and global oil supplies in a "glaring violation of UN treaties", following attacks this month on four oil tankers in the UAE regional waters and on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia.

''In the past, we were able to overcome many challenges that targeted security and stability, and also preserve the gains and achieve economic and social development in our countries. We will work together to confront all challenges and threats with determination and firmness,'' he added.

He continued:''The Iranian regime's interference in the internal affairs of the region's countries, its development of nuclear and missile programs, and threat to the freedom of international maritime navigation which jeopardize world oil supplies, are considered a flagrant challenge to the UN charters, principles and laws for the maintenance of international peace and security.

'' ''The Iranian regime's support for terrorism over four decades and threat to security and stability in order to expand its influence and hegemony are an act rejected by international norms and conventions,'' King Salman added.

''The recent criminal acts targeting one of the world's most important trade routes through sabotage act against four commercial carriers close to the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates in addition to targeting two oil pumping stations and a number of vital installations in the Kingdom, do require all of us to work seriously to preserve the security and gains of the GCC countries.'' ''The Kingdom is keen on the security and stability of the region, sparing it the scourge of war, and achieving peace, stability and prosperity for all peoples of the region, including the Iranian people. The Kingdom's hand will always be extended to peace and will continue supporting all efforts to maintain security and stability in the region.'' In conclusion, it should be noted that the lack of a deterrent and firm stance to confront the subversive activities of the Iranian regime in the region has led the Iranian regime to continue and escalate these activities as ''we see today''. ''We demand the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the threat posed by Iranian practices to the international peace and security, use all means to stop the Iranian regime from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, sponsoring terrorist activities in the region and the world, and threatening the freedom of maritime navigation in the international straits.''