Egypt signs final statement of 41st Gulf Cooperation Council Summit

CAIRO – 5 January 2021: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday that Egypt signed the final statement of the 41st Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Minister Sameh Shokry attended the summit held in Saudi Arabia's Al Ola town on January 5, 2021.

The ministry's statement indicated that Egypt is always keen on solidarity among the Arab quartet – Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates – and on joint Arab work in the face of massive threats experienced by the region. The ministry also stressed good intentions as a base for relations among Arab states, and not interfering in each other's internal affairs.

In that context, "Egypt values and appreciates every honest effort made to achieve reconciliation between the quartet and Qatar, primarily the efforts of Kuwait over the past years," the statement reads.

Saudi Arabia announced Monday that it resumed aviation with Qatar as well as opening urban borders with the fellow Gulf state. That came after three years and a half after the Arab quartet severed diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017 for funding terrorism.

In his speech at the summit, Emir of Kuwait Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al-Sabah expressed appreciation for the Egyptian role in backing matters pertinent to the region's security welcoming Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry.

The summit is also attended by Emirati Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai Mohamed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum; Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman; Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said; Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad; and, GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Bin Rashed Al Zayani.

In his speech, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman thanked Kuwait and the United States for brokering rapprochement among Gulf States. It is noted that King Salman of Saudi Arabia did not attend.  

The Saudi Arabia Crown Prince urged concerting efforts to "confront threats posed by the Iranian nuclear program and balisstic missile program," as reported by BBC Arabic. 

The attendees signed the final statement asserting solidarity and stability. A joint press conference by the GCC's secretary general and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud is scheduled to be held to present the summit's outcomes.