JEDDAH, 17 May 2004 — GCC leaders yesterday urged the United States to review its decision to slap new sanctions on Syria and to pursue “constructive dialogue” instead to settle any dispute with Damascus. They also pledged joint steps to combat terrorism and condemned the recent terrorist attacks in the Kingdom.

Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council “expressed regret at the US decision to impose economic sanctions on Syria,” GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyya said in a statement at the end of a one-day consultative summit here.

The heads of state and top officials from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates who attended the summit “praised the responsive Syrian attitude and voiced hope that the United States will reconsider this decision,” Atiyya said.

“They called for positive, constructive dialogue to settle various outstanding issues in a way that serves common interests,” he said.

The summit called on the international community to force Israel to stop its demolitions of Palestinian homes and denounced Israel’s “state terrorism” and its assassination of Palestinian leaders.

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who chaired the meeting, assured members of the alliance’s confidence in Saudi Arabia’s ability to stamp out terror. He said the GCC needed to intensify cooperation to make it through “this delicate and critical phase.”

The one-day summit discussed international issues including escalating crude prices, the worsening situation in Iraq and Palestine and the agenda of the upcoming Arab summit in Tunis.

“The GCC leaders hope that the Tunis summit will help strengthen Arab unity and solidarity and promote joint Arab action,” Atiyya said

The meeting was attended by Crown Prince Abdullah, King Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Emir Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar, UAE Vice President Sheikh Maktoum ibn Rashed Al-Maktoum, and Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sayed Fahd ibn Mahmoud Al-Said.

The Gulf leaders expressed their deep concern over “the worsening security situation in Iraq” and blasted the “inhuman treatment and crimes” of coalition soldiers against Iraqi prisoners. But they also denounced terrorist attacks in Iraq and emphasized the need for a quick transfer of power to the Iraqis, Atiyya said.

“There is also the crazy lift-off in crude prices... which might appear to satisfy Gulf countries” in the short term “but gives rise to fears of future fallout,” the GCC chief said, referring to concern over a price collapse.

The Jeddah gathering comes ahead of the re-scheduled Arab summit in Tunis on May 22-23 with controversial reforms as the key theme. Most of the GCC states have reiterated that any democratic reform must come from within.