RIYADH, 8 December 2006 — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday said that the six Gulf Cooperation Council member states will express their concern to Iran about the prospect of nuclear power plants being developed on its side of the Arabian Gulf coast.
“We hope that Iran would take this into account and cooperate with GCC countries in order to take necessary measures against any calamity, which is likely even in the best of circumstances,” said the minister at a press conference after a closed-door session in preparation for tomorrow’s summit of the GCC heads of state. “Cooperation between all parties is required as the region is sensitive and linked with various interests.”
GCC Secretary-General Abdulrahman Al-Attiya also attended the press conference. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman.
Prior to the closed-door meeting, Prince Saud also addressed the situation in Iraq, and warned against sectarian violence and the “perils of partition.” The minister called for ending outside interferences in Iraq. “I appeal on the basis of the decision taken in a special ministerial committee meeting recently held in Cairo with regard to holding an Iraqi conference for national harmony,” he said.
“It requires coordinating with the Iraqi government and various Iraqi groups. The meeting is essential to protect Iraq from the perils of a partition and sectarian violence threatening regional security.”
The minister said that the current situation in Iraq required that countries of the region try their best to bring about peace, stability and territorial integrity of Iraq, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The GCC Ministerial Council met last month and discussed several important issues concerning the future of the group, enhancing coordination, cooperation and integration between the member states in political, economic, cultural, security and military fields in its march toward a common Gulf citizenship.
Prince Saud also stressed the need for the Lebanese people to strive for their national unity and “strengthening the security, stability and prevalence of the law, sanity and wisdom besides engaging in a national dialogue. Or else the country’s political stability, integrity and independence will be in jeopardy.”
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah issued a directive to name tomorrow’s summit in Riyadh as the “Sheikh Jaber Summit” in honor of the late emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Prince Saud also called for expediting moves to treat all GCC citizens equally in all areas.
Those who arrived in Riyadh to participate in the meeting earlier yesterday included Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled ibn Mohammed Al-Khalifah, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah ibn Zaid Al-Nahayan. Those who attended the meeting also included the Omani minister responsible for foreign affairs, Yousuf ibn Alawi Abdullah, and Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed ibn Abdullah Al-Mahmoud.
