KUWAIT — The 46th extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria and Lebanon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan headed the Saudi delegation to the meeting held in Kuwait. The meeting discussed the latest developments in the region, most notably Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. While stressing the importance of respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, it rejected foreign interference in its internal affairs. The ministers expressed their support for all the ongoing efforts and endeavors to reach a comprehensive transitional process that achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people. The Ministerial Council welcomed the steps taken to ensure the safety of civilians, stop the bloodshed, achieve national reconciliation, and preserve the institutions and capabilities of the Syrian state. It called for empowering Syria economically, lifting sanctions on it, and providing means of support to all the Syrian people. The meeting condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, including the occupation of the buffer zone on the Syrian border, and the decisions of the Israeli occupation to expand settlements in the occupied Golan, saying that this is a serious violation of the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions. The council stressed the positions of the GCC countries regarding supporting Lebanon's sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity, and the importance of implementing comprehensive political and economic reforms, and preventing it from turning into a launching pad for terrorism, drug smuggling, and activities that threaten the security and stability of the region. It stressed the importance of the role of the Lebanese security forces in confronting this. The council also slammed the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, stressing the need to implement Security Council resolutions, especially the Taif Agreement, and ensure respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, and extend the Lebanese government's control over all Lebanese territories. It noted the significant assistance provided by the GCC countries to the Lebanese people to meet their humanitarian needs. The Ministerial Council affirmed the GCC's firm and permanent support for the Palestinian people, and the defense of their legitimate rights, expressing their aspiration for the success of the Qatari-Egyptian-American mediation efforts to release the detainees, and the need to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire, end the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, open all crossings immediately and without conditions, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian, relief and medical aid to meet the needs of the residents of the Gaza Strip. The Saudi delegation to the meeting included Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid, Director General of the General Administration of Arab States Ghazi Al-Anzi, Head of the Political Section at the Saudi Embassy in Kuwait Yahya Al-Qahtani, and Assistant Director General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Walid Al-Samaeel.
