Arab Quartet, Qatar announce reconciliation at GCC’s 41 summit final statement

CAIRO – 5 January 2020: Leaders and heads of the GCC member states' delegations signed the final statement of the 41st Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held in Saudi Arabia's Al Ula town.

 Commenting on the signing, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said: “We hope that the signing of the Al Ula statement will serve as a new page for the future of the region, and confirm the solid ties between the GCC countries.”

GCC secretary general Nayef al-Hajraf said that Egypt's signing of Al Ula statement confirms the ‘close relations that bind Egypt with the GCC countries.’

Th GCC countries also affirmed in the final statement its keenness on the strength and unity in the face of any threat to them.

Al Ula Declaration rejected all of the ‘Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the GCC countries and the region.’

It also condemned ‘the terrorist acts carried out by Iran and’ in which considered to be clear violation of international norms and values and threatening regional and international security.

The GCC's 41st Supreme Council session's meeting was attended by Senior Advisor to U.S. President Jared Kushner, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit.

In a joint press conference with GCC secretary general Nayef al-Hajraf after the summit, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Bin Farhan stated that the Arab reconciliation would not be achieved without ‘the tireless efforts of Kuwait, and the United States of America’.

“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met today with his brothers of the GCC leaders at this summit of reconciliation that will lead us into turning the page on the past and looking forward to a future.” Bin Farhan said.

Egypt’s Minster Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry attended the summit held in Al Ula town and signed the final statement of the 41st Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

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.