QNA/Doha

 

The State of Qatar is playing an active and effective role in strengthening the solidarity of the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Secretary-General of GCC Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani has said.

In an interview with Qatar News agency (QNA), al-Zayani stressed that the people of the GCC countries have absolute faith that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and other GCC leaders are keen on promoting the Gulf Co-operation Council towards more integration, interdependence and solidarity.

Speaking about the upcoming 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council which will be held on 9 and 10 December in Doha, al-Zayani said that the summit is being held at a very important time and under extremely critical circumstances, which undoubtedly require more solidarity among the GCC countries.

He expressed delight that the GCC Summit is being held in Doha. Calling it the “Summit of Joy” he said it is being held in an atmosphere of happiness for maintaining the solidarity of GCC countries.

It is reflective of the joy which the GCC people felt after the Riyadh Supplementary Agreement during the GCC leaders meeting in Riyadh on November 16, held at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

During the upcoming Doha Summit, the GCC leaders will focus on the critical situation and developments in the Arab region which have deep impact on the GCC security and stability, and on regional and international peace and security, especially in light of the increasing threat of extremist and terrorist organisations, the lack of a unified Arab stance, the unstable condition in some regional countries, the worsening suffering of refugees and displaced persons in a number of Arab states and the growing regional interventions in Arab affairs. 

At the level of the GCC joint work, al-Zayani said that there are several important reports submitted by the ministerial committees and the General Secretariat of the Council in all security, military, economic and development fields that will be presented at the summit.

With regard to the GCC’s collective action to combat terrorism in the light of the counter-terrorism meeting which was held in Saudi Arabia in September, al-Zayani said that the GCC countries have taken a series of effective measures to combat acts of terrorism at all levels internally, regionally and internationally.

At the internal level, the GCC countries issued laws and national legislations on combating and financing terrorism, including a security strategy to combat extremism and terrorism, and the GCC convention to fight terrorism, as well as the comprehensive co-operation and permanent co-ordination between the security agencies in the GCC countries in this area.

At the international level, the GCC countries joined many global conventions and legal instruments with a view to supporting the international efforts to combat terrorism.

GCC countries also called in all regional and international forums to reject and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and emphasised that the fight against terrorism and eradication can only be achieved through an intensive international effort that is commensurate with the gravity of the terrorist risk.

Speaking about the developments in Yemen, the secretary-general underlined that the GCC countries are fully committed to the unity of Yemen, respect its sovereignty and independence and reject any interference in its internal affairs.

The GCC countries support peaceful dialogue and shun the violence, and in this regard, the GCC countries support Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to complete the transition stage in accordance with the GCC initiative.

Speaking about the economic co-operation, the secretary-general underlined that the leaders attach great importance to the GCC railway network project for its direct positive impacts on enhancing communication and bonding between the GCC countries and their citizens, facilitating the movement of trade and citizens between the GCC countries and as well as supporting joint investments between the states.

He pointed out that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the project. The member states had agreed, in co-ordination with the General Secretariat, on an action plan and a schedule for the completion of detailed engineering designs for the project.

The project is expected to be fully implemented and operated in 2018.

On the GCC Interconnection Grid, al-Zayani said that the relevant committees are working on the project as recommended by the GCC leaders. Consultations are still under way among the member states to reach the best way to implement it.

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