HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, returned home yesterday evening after leading the Sultanate's delegation on behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos in the two-day 30th GCC summit which concluded in Kuwait yesterday. HH Sayyid Fahd was seen off at Kuwait International Airport by a number of Kuwaiti government officials.
HH Sayyid Fahd sent a cable of thanks to Shaikh Sabah al Ahmed al Jaber al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait. He also sent similar cables to senior officials. In his cables, HH Sayyid Fahd expressed his honour and that of his delegation to take part in the summit on behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, wishing them continuous success.
HH Sayyid Fahd also commended the meetings and the outcome of which positive impacts will be reflected in achieving further development for the GCC states and their peoples. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation and that of his delegation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to them. HH Sayyid Fahd also affirmed the existing deep brotherly relations between Oman and Kuwait thanks to their wise leadership.
HH Sayyid Fahd was received upon his return by Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmi, Awqaf and Religious Affairs Minister, Shaikh Salim bin Hilal al Khalili, Agriculture Minister, Hamad bin Mohammed al Rashdi, Information Minister, Shaikh Abdullah bin Salim al Rowas, Regional Municipalities and Water Resources Minister, Dr Sharifa bint Khalfan al Yahya'eeya, Social Development Minister, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Shaikh Abdullah bin Nassir al Bakri, Manpower Minister, and the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Kuwait in the Sultanate.
HH Sayyid Fahd was accompanied by an official delegation comprising Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al Hinai, Justice Minister, Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, National Economy Minister and Supervisor of the Finance Ministry, Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Health Minister, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Commerce and Industry Minister, Shaikh Salim bin Suhail al Maashani, Oman's Ambassador to Kuwait, and government officials.
The Gulf Co-operation Council leaders have voiced confidence over the ability of their economies to overcome the impact of the global economic crisis. The council, in its final communiqué issued at the end of the 30th summit here yesterday, said, “The summit welcomes efforts taken by the member states to contain the impacts of the global economic crisis and expresses confidence in the strength of the Gulf economies and their capabilities to overcome the impacts of the crisis”.
The summit also reviewed practical steps taken in the military co-operation domain, ratifying a defence strategy that encompasses upgrading of capabilities of the joint Peninsular Shield, joint military projects and sustaining co-operation in the issue of arms-smuggling to GCC countries. The council, in its final communique, also reviewed recommendations forwarded by the Joint Defence Council during its eighth regular session held in Muscat last November.
In the security domain, the council examined co-ordination in light of outcomes of the 28th meeting of GCC interior ministers, held in Muscat last October. The council expressed satisfaction over achievements made in this regard, which positively reflected on societies of the GCC, reaffirming the need to intensify the process of information exchange among all GCC security bodies. It also welcomed Qatar’s signing of the security agreement, hoping for complete ratification of the agreement, along with other security accords by all member states.
In legal affairs, the council endorsed recommendations forwarded by the GCC justice ministers approving the Muscat-amended bill for Unified Real Estate Registration and its manifesto as a guide book for the next four years. Regarding manpower development, the council satisfaction with actions taken in implementing decisions vis-a-vis the issue as well as development efforts exerted by member states in the education domain.
The council also approved the general framework for executive programmes of a cultural strategy for GCC states. Commended the decision to award the Avicenna gold medal to Bahraini Premier Prince Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in recognition of his efforts and achievements in promoting education, particularly ICTs in education, and culture in Bahrain, in the Arab world, and beyond. The council underlined the significance of activating dialogue among people with different faiths in accordance the initiative of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Yet, the communique noted, the council was overwhelmed by results of the public referendum that banned the construction of minarets in Switzerland, and the endeavour of some countries in supporting such decision, which, according to the communique, is an “unacceptable” approach, and is seen as discrimination against Islam and thwarts efforts exerted in narrowing the cultural gap among nations of different civilisations. In this connection, the council called on the Swiss Federation as well as the international community to intensify efforts in order to safeguard religious rights and protect places of worship.
In the domain of scientific and technological co-operation, the council was briefed with steps taken about using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in member states and underlined the importance for efforts in this regard. Two guide books were approved in the domain of joint municipal action; one from Saudi Arabia on establishing urban observatories and another from Bahrain on municipal customs and means to collect them.
The council reviewed the memo on ethical challenges faced by the Gulf youth and it tasked ministerial committees concerned to follow up the issue. The council reviewed recommendations of the GCC Consultative Authority on the council’s journey, impacts of the global economic crisis on GCC countries and measures taken to face them and GCC’s food and water security. All proposals were approved and forwarded to ministerial committees concerned.
For the 13th session of the authority, issues of developing crops, livestock and fish resources, global warming and climate change, people with special needs would be raised in order for its outcome to be discussed in the 31st GCC summit. The council also expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the third meeting of chairmen of the GCC parliamentary councils held earlier this month in Kuwait.
The GCC leaders approved the appointment of a Bahraini nominee as the next Secretary-General of the Gulf bloc as of 2011. Regarding Yemen, the council was briefed with a report by the GCC Secretary-General, and it expressed relief over financing development projects in the Arab country. It also urged donor countries to honour pledges made in the London Donors’ Conference. It also ratified Yemen’s membership to GCC post service under-secretaries’ committee.
The Kuwait Declaration stressed the need for co-operation to address regional and international challenges, while at the same time supporting all efforts to enhance the joint GCC march. In particular, the communiqué underlined the importance of supporting the GCC educational sector, with emphasis on raising the capabilities of educational institutions to help keep pace with “the challenges of the age”.
This, according to the communiqué, can be achieved by introducing highly professional academic programmes in GCC universities. In this regard, it was agreed to establish a Regional Authority for Academic Accreditation and Educational Quality. The communiqué called for intensifying efforts to reinforce food and water security, a major concern for GCC states which suffer from the existence of large deserts, the shrinkage and low productivity of arable lands and the shortage of water supplies. In this regard, the communiqué called for the establishment of a Food Security Studies Centre to research issues like agricultural productivity and investment and means of providing foodstuff to consumers in member states at affordable prices.
The Kuwait Declaration hailed the efforts of the GCC Health Ministers Council’s executive office in their study aimed to set up a GCC regional centre for monitoring epidemics. The GCC Supreme Council studied progress reports on the Customs Union, the Gulf Common Market, the Monetary Union and infrastructure projects, including the Electricity Grid and the GCC Railway and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the reports. The council welcomed the Monetary Union parties’ endorsement of the pact and gave directives to its board to establish the Monetary Council and tasked it with specifying a timeframe for the issuance and implementation of the GCC currency.
The communiqué expressed the GCC’s support to Saudi Arabia against cross-border assaults launched by armed infiltrators against the Saudi territories. The Gulf bloc expressed full solidarity and backing to Saudi Arabia to protecting its lands and safety of its citizens, affirming that any aggression against Saudi Arabia was an assault against the security and stability of the entire GCC states, noted the communiqué.
The GCC has also extended full backing to the unity, security and stability of Yemen. The GCC position was in reaction to attacks launched by armed elements in Southern Saudi Arabia. In the final communiqué of the 30th Summit of GCC Leaders, the Gulf bloc reiterated the UAE’s sovereignty over the three islands, their regional waters, air space, continental shelves, and the economic zone as an inseparable part of the UAE. The leaders expressed their regret that contacts with Iran had not made positive results that would lead to resolving the issue of the three islands, thus boosting the security and stability of the region.
They called for looking into all peaceful measures aimed at reinstating the UAE’s sovereignty over the three islands, and also called on Iran to response to the UAE’s efforts in this regard out of commitment to good neighborly relations. Council of the GCC reiterated yesterday the importance of ridding the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and nuclear arms.
In the final communiqué of the 30th Summit of the GCC Leaders, the Supreme Council welcomed international efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully and through diplomatic means. It expressed hope that all related parties would work for a political settlement that would eliminate concerns and doubts over the nature of this dossier and bring security and stability to the region.
It noted the right of all countries of the region to have peaceful nuclear energy within the framework of international agreements, based on regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and under its supervision. Moreover, it called for the implementation of the IAEA regulations on all countries of the region with no exception, including Israel. The GCC underscored yesterday its great interest in the success of Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.
In the closing communiqué of the 30th Summit of the GCC Leaders, the leaders said that this came out of belief in joint responsibility in tackling climate change issues, and in solidarity with the international community for placing a frame for sustainable development. The GCC’s Supreme Council expressed its appreciation to Oman for its efforts to support joint environmental action, noting that His Majesty Sultan Qaboos allocated an award for the human element and the environment within the GCC Secretariat.
The GCC endorsed a guidebook for placing a national response strategy in case of nuclear or radiation emergencies in the GCC, as well as, a guidebook for procedures to be taken in the case of radiation contamination of food, water and crops. It also endorsed a guidebook of licensing and registration in the field of radiology in the GCC, as well as, a guidebook for inspecting safety procedures in relation to precautionary radiation practices, and a training guidebook for those working in the field of precautionary radiation.
In the domain of scientific and technological cooperation, the council was briefed with steps taken to using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in member States, underlining importance for efforts in this regard to continue. Two guide books were approved in the domain of joint municipal action; one from Saudi Arabia on establishing urban observatories and another from Bahrain on municipal customs and means to collect them.
For the 13th session of the authority, issues of developing crops, livestock and fish resources, global warming and climate change, people of special needs would be discussed in order for its outcomes to be discussed in the 31st GCC summit. The GCC leaders approved the appointment of the Bahraini nominee as the next Secretary General of the GCC as of 2011.
Regarding Yemen, the council was briefed with the report by GCC secretary general, as it expressed relief over financing developmental projects in the Arab country. As it also urged donor countries to abide by pledges made in the London Donors’ Conference. It also ratified Yemen’s membership in GCC post service undersecretaries’ committee.
The Supreme Council of the GCC expressed its condemnation of the bomb attacks on Iraqi cities that took place recently, expressing hope that Iraq and its brotherly people achieve the sought security and stability, a final communiqué of the 30th GCC summit said on Tuesday. The communiqué also stressed that achieving security and stability requires accelerating the achievements of national reconciliation so far in Iraq for the success of an inclusive political process that must accommodate all segments of the Iraqi people without exception or discrimination.
