Gulf leaders support Arab peace initiative, Iraq -Kuwait reconciliation
Gulf, Politics, 5/27/2002

The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation States (GCC) member states Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad al-Ateyah announced that GCC leaders listened during their fourth consultation meeting which was held in Jeddah on Sunday to a detailed report from the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and his meetings with the US President George Bush and high ranking American officials at the American administration.

In a press conference he held in Jeddah following the consultation summit of the GCC leaders, al-Ateyah said that the leaders expressed their appreciation for the efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Fahd in the service of the Palestinian question and stressed their support to the efforts made to revitalize the Arab peace initiative.

He added that the GCC leaders commended the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and expressed their cling to the Arab peace initiative, approved by the recent Beirut Arab summit as a base for any move aiming at achieving just and lasting peace in the framework of international legitimacy.

Al-Ateyah stressed that the GCC leaders stressed that peace is the strategic option for the Arab nation and stressed their states' rejection to violence in all its forms. Al-Ateyah indicated that crown prince Abdullah gave a detailed explanation on the results of Sharm Esh Sheikh summit which discussed conditions in the Palestinian territories in light of the Israeli escalation and Arab and international contacts held in this regard.

The GCC secretary general also said that the GCC leaders presented their blessing and greetings to the King of Bahrain and its people over the good results of the municipal councils elections whose results will contribute to deepening cooperation ties among the GCC member states.

He said that the Gulf leaders commended the positive results concluded during the recent Beirut Arab summit held in March concerning the Iraqi- Kuwaiti case. He also stressed the need of materializing what was agreed upon into practical and tangible steps by the side of Iraq in order to strengthen security and stability in the region and unifying the lines and the efforts to back the causes which serve the Arab and Islamic nations.

Al-Ateyah explained that the Gulf leaders discussed the relations between the UAE and Iran, stressing the GCC interests in the contacts held between the two countries especially the visit made by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs to Iran at the invitation of the Iranian government. He added that the GCC leaders are looking forward that this visit will contribute to strengthening relations between the two neighboring states and enhancing friendship and cooperation established between the GCC member states and Iran so as to enhance security and stability in the region.

He said that a revision was made on the works of the various ministerial committees especially following up the decisions of the 22nd session of the GCC higher council which were held in Muscat in December, 2001 especially the economic agreement between the GCC member states, the customs union and the schedule to establish the monetary Union in preparation to launch the GCC united currency in a date not to exceed the beginning of 2010.

Previous Stories:
  Gulf states leaders meet on consultation tomorrow   (5/25/2002)
  Gulf states consultation summit next Sunday   (5/22/2002)
  A Gulf tour for the Iranian defense minister   (5/21/2002)

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