JEDDAH, 2 September 2007 — The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) yesterday pledged its full support for the international peace conference called by the US and hoped it would bring about a comprehensive Middle East settlement based on the Arab peace plan.
In a joint communiqué issued after a meeting here, the GCC foreign ministers said they hoped that the conference would revive talks on various issues in achieving a final solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. They also called on Israel to stop building settlements in the occupied territories.
In his opening address, Dr. Nizar Madani, state minister for foreign affairs, voiced the GCC’s desire to establish better relations with Iran based on mutual respect.
He also urged Tehran to save the region from an arms race and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. He also urged Palestinian groups to end their infighting and respect the Makah accord. The Saudi minister said the Kingdom was examining a report by a technical team that recently visited Iraq to decide its next move in reopening its Baghdad embassy.
The GCC communiqué urged all foreign parties not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq and called on the Iraqi people to reject machinations to promote racial conflicts in the country.
Meanwhile, GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah said the group was considering negotiations with Iran to create a free trade area.
