Joint statement by the Gulf states, EU on ME peace, Iraq-Kuwait
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union have underlined the importance of efforts exerted by Syria and Lebanon in order to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle east region, based on international legitimacy resolutions and the land for peace formula.
The Gulf News Agency said that both the GCC and the EU stressed in their final statement which they released in conclusion of the talks they held on April 23 in Manama that just and comprehensive peace in the region should base on UN Security Council resolutions concerned, including UN resolutions 242 and 338 and the land for peace formula.
The two sides expressed great concern over the policy of escalation pursued by Israel against the Palestinians and the GCC welcomed the statement issued by the EU on April 18 to this effect.
The two sides called for taking all necessary measures in order to lift the closure imposed on the occupied palestinian territories.
As for Iraq, the two sides welcomed the current talks between the UN secretary general Kofi Annan and the representatives for the Iraqi government, hoping that these contacts will help in boosting such a cooperation.
The two sides also expressed their concern over the grave humanitarian conditions in Iraq and called for exerting utmost efforts to ensure any oil-for-food program working in its full capacity to serve the interests of Iraq. They reiterated their commitment to Iraq's independence and territorial sovereignty and the sovereignty of Kuwait as well as other countries in the region, including Iraq, in their internationally recognized borders.
They noted the positive developments in their relations with Iran and hoped that all remained key issues to settle the conflict between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the three Gulf islands, peacefully.
They expressed their determination to support all efforts provided for the establishment a zone free from nuclear weapons and other mass- annihilation arms in the Middle East.
The GCC- EU joint council which was established in line with a cooperation agreement between the EU, on the one hand and states, members at the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC ( Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait ), on the other hand, had concluded its 11th session in al-Manama, Bahrain on April 23 in the presence of representatives for these sides.