GCC Foreign Ministers Discuss Ways To Enhance Coordination

By Rashid Hassan

Foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in their ministerial council meeting on Thursday discussed key issues including the unity vision to further enhance coordination to bolster joint Gulf-wide action.

The 142nd session was held under the chairmanship of Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, Bahraini foreign minister.

Al-Khalifa in his opening address underlined that the ministerial meeting aims at further enhancing ways to coordinate joint action, exchange views on important regional and international issues and ways to restore security and stability in the region.

Ahmed Al-Kaabi, a spokesman at the GCC General Secretariat, said the meeting was aimed at following implementation of the 37th GCC summit held in Bahrain in December and also seeks to further enhance ties between the Gulf countries and other countries worldwide.

He said the Bahraini minister in his address stressed the on strength and steadiness of the Gulf countries’ stand to face challenges regardless of their source and on continuous efforts in building their own abilities to boost safety at home.

The Gulf ministers attending the session leant their support for collective efforts that will ensure peace, security and stability in the region.

The foreign ministers also discussed reports submitted by the ministerial committees and the GCC secretariat. They also looked into reports about the Council’s strategic dialogues with influential international organizations, allies as well as the latest regional and international developments bolstering efforts in combating terrorism.

The foreign ministers, ahead of the session, participated in the launching ceremony of the Conference Center at the General Secretariat, which is named after the late Prince Saud Al-Faisal.

The ceremony was also attended by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Prince Fahd Al-Faisal and GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani.

After unveiling the memorial plaque of the late Prince Saud Al-Faisal’s photograph during the ceremony, Al-Zayani delivered a speech in which he welcomed the participants in the ceremony and highlighted the efforts exerted by the late Prince in enhancing the GCC joint action since its establishment in May 1981.

He added that Prince Saud was knight of the diplomacy and attracted admiration of the leaders of the world, and expressed sincere thanks to the GCC foreign ministers for their noble initiative.

The ministers also spoke on the occasion highlighting the late prince’s achievements during his tenure of four decades as foreign minister.

The late Prince, whose name is listed in the record book as the world’s longest serving foreign minister, has left an outstanding example and legacy to diplomacy.

Spending four decades serving the Kingdom and the world with the utmost devotion and sincerity Prince Saud Al-Faisal was the key architect of Saudi and Gulf diplomacy.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal expressed his appreciation for the GCC foreign ministers on this initiative, recalling the noble qualities of humanity, attitudes and courage of Prince Saud Al-Faisal.

A documentary film entitled “The Knight of Diplomacy” was also shown on the occasion that highlighted various aspects, reviewed the journey of Prince Saud, and the most important achievements of his career.