Gulf Cooperation Council: 28 years of political, security and economic achievements

Unified position to serve peoples of the region, cooperation relations with world countries, permanent endeavors to achieve peace, development

Reports set accomplishments in the areas of security, industry, trade, development and construction

Military cooperation between the countries of The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has developed in quality and quantity ever since the establishment of the Council in 1402H.

The first phase was intended for foundation, setting of frameworks and principles of military cooperation and joint security, unification of planning and implementation of joint exercises.

In its report on the 28th anniversary of the GCC establishment which falls on Monday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reviewed the most important GCC achievements in the military field.

The Report said the achievements include the formation of Peninsula Shield Force; execution of Peninsula Shield exercises and the signing of joint defense cooperation agreement in the 21st session of the GCC Supreme Council as well as joint military projects to connect Operation Centers of Air Forces and Air Defense in GCC countries and to connect Armed Forces by communications networks.

It said the military cooperation has also included intelligence and military security; military survey; medical services; weapons systems; communications; air forces; navy forces; environmental security; defense against chemical, biological, nuclear and radioactive weapons, electronic warfare, and defense against ballistic missiles.

On 21st Rajab 1401 AH corresponding to 25th May 1981, Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, State of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where they reached a cooperative framework joining the six states to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection among the Member States in all fields in order to achieve unity, according to article 4 of the GCC Charter. Article 4 also emphasized the deepening and strengthening of relations, links and areas of cooperation among their citizens. The underpinnings which are clearly provided for in the preamble of the GCC Charter, confirm the special relations, common qualities and similar systems founded on the creed of Islam, faith in a common destiny and sharing one goal, and that the cooperation among these states would serve the sublime objectives of the Arab nation.

The decision was not a product of the moment but an institutional embodiment of a historical, social and cultural reality. Deep religious and cultural ties link the six states, and strong kin relations prevail among their citizens. All these factors, enhanced by one geographical entity extending from sea to desert, have facilitated contacts and interaction among them, and created homogeneous values and characteristics.

Therefore, while, on one hand, the GCC is a continuation, evolution and institutionalization of old prevailing realities, it is, on the other, a practical answer to the challenges of security and economic development in the area. It is also a fulfillment of the aspirations of its citizens towards some sort of Arab regional unity.

The GCC Charter states that the basic objectives are to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields, strengthening ties between their peoples, formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, administration, as well as fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, establishing scientific research centers, setting up joint ventures, and encouraging cooperation of the private sector.

The similarity among GCC Member States enabled the GCC to adopt common stands towards political issues and policies based on the principles of good neighborliness, non-intervention in the internal affairs, and respect for the sovereignty of each state over its territories and resources and the peaceful settlement of disputes. That has conferred much credibility upon the GCC as an international organization playing an important role in this vital area of the world.

Coordination and cooperation in the field of external policy aims at adopting common positions towards the political issues that are of common concern to the GCC States within the regional, Arab and international frameworks, and acting as a single group with the other countries of the world within the framework of principles based on mutual respect, non-intervention in internal affairs and the pursuit of common interests, in such a manner that maintains the common interests of the GCC Member States are secured, their stability enhanced, and the approval of their peoples gained.

The most important political objectives of the GCC can be summed up as follows:

- In the eighties of the twentieth century, the most important GCC political and strategic objectives focused on the GCC stability and security through facing the causes of instability and the sources of threat mainly posed by the Iraq-Iran war, which required collective action by the GCC States to avoid expansion of the war.

- In the nineties, the aggression by the former Iraqi regime against the State of Kuwait and the subsequent occupation of the country, posed the most serious security challenge ever encountered since the establishment of the GCC. Therefore, the liberation of Kuwait was the top priority of the GCC.

- After the war, intensive diplomatic common action was needed to support the United Nations seeking to force Iraq to implement relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

- Supporting the United Arab Emirates in exercising its right, through all peaceful means, to restore its sovereignty over the three islands: the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, which had been occupied by Iran since 1971 and up to date.

- Seeking to establish better relations with Iran by the end of the eighties through developing a collective framework of cooperation, which led to concluding several agreements and protocols, of economic and security nature with the Islamic Republic of Iran, in an endeavor to settle the outstanding issues between Iran and the GCC States, the most important of which being the three UAE islands.

- Within the Arab framework, the GCC Member States adopted collective action to support the Arab issues, the Palestinian issue being first priority, and the peace process in the Middle East, while preserving the Arab rights.

- Supporting and enhancing the Islamic issues.

The Most Significant Achievements in the Field of External Policy.

Contribution to the Containment and Termination of the Iraq-Iran War.

The Iraq-Iran war was in its first year when the GCC was established. As such it was the object of attention during the sessions of the Supreme Council since the first Summit that was held in Abu Dhabi. The GCC States used all their political and moral potentials to find a way out of that bloody war, which inflicted substantial human and material losses on both sides and disturbed regional security.

Within the Arab framework, the GCC action came up with the septet committee that was formed for reaching a cease-fire. At the international level, the political efforts of the GCC States contributed to highlighting the war and seeking the means for reaching a solution. Those efforts resulted in the adoption of the UNSC resolution 540 in October 1983 calling for the immediate suspension of military operations in the Gulf and avoiding targeting the vessels, economic installations and ports. UNSC resolution 552 followed in June 1984, in response to the complaint of the GCC States against the attacks on the commercial vessels from and to the ports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait. The said resolution stressed the right of navigation in the territorial waters and marine routes within the ports and tourist installations of the countries that were not parties in the acts of war. Finally, the GCC States effectively contributed to the adoption of the UNSC resolution 598 (July 1987), an historical resolution which put an end to that destructive war after being accepted by both parties.

When the Iraqi regime invaded and occupied the State of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the GCC States hastened, since the very beginning, to take action based on the principle that an attack against any Member State means an attack against all other GCC States. The GCC States were at the core of political and diplomatic action rejecting the aggression and consequences thereof and calling for unconditional withdrawal. The GCC Foreign Ministers held an extraordinary meeting in Cairo on August 3, 1990 on the sideline of the meetings of the Council of the Arab league.

The efforts of the GCC States resulted in convening the extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo on August 10th 1990; two meetings of the Arab Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Conference Organization had preceded the summit on 3rd and 4th of August 1990 respectively. Moreover, the GCC States effectively contributed to the issuance of a number of Security Council resolutions calling for an unconditional withdrawal of the Iraqi troops and restoration of legality.

The series of resolutions began with the UNSC resolution 660 on August 3, 1990 denouncing the invasion and calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal through UNSC resolution 678 on 29 November 1990 that authorized the use of all necessary means to support and enforce the relevant Security Council resolutions and restore international security and peace to the region. Other relevant resolutions calling for the elimination of the consequences aggression were issued as well.

The GCC efforts and standpoints were endorsed by the resolutions of the 11th GCC Summit held in Doha in December 1990. The Summit reaffirmed the position of the GCC States against the aggression and their determination to resist and eliminate its consequences in line with the principle that an attack against any Member State means an attack against all, and that the security of the GCC States is integral.

The GCC States played a crucial role in the liberation of the State of Kuwait through exploiting their political and diplomatic credibility and their military and material capacities for the sake of liberation that was attained in February 1991. Thereafter, the GCC States called for implementation of the relevant resolutions of Security Council and elimination of the consequences of invasion and occupation.

After the breakdown of the former Iraqi regime, the GCC States expressed, on several occasions, their strong support to the Iraqi people in their political hardship through enhancing the vital role of the United Nations in the political process in Iraq as stipulated in the UNSC resolution 1546 on 8 June 2004. The GCC States also supported the legislative elections, the adoption of constitution and the subsequent procedures for completing the political reconstruction of the State of Iraq. They called all Iraqi forces to form a national unity government, which represents all ethnic and religious sects of Iraq without discrimination; a government that expresses the aspirations of the Iraqi people as well as the Arab world for laying down the foundations of a safe, stable and unified Iraq that is capable of managing its affairs by itself and regaining its role as an active member at both the Arab and international levels.

The GCC States have also sought, through participation in the conferences of the donor countries, the Paris Club, the meetings of Iraq's neighboring countries and the bilateral contacts, to accelerate the economic reconstruction of Iraq.

The GCC States supported the Document of the International Compact with Iraq that was adopted at Sharm El-Sheikh on 4-5 May 2007. The Document contained a five-year plan for rendering financial, political and technical support to Iraq provided that the Iraqi government implements political, security and economic reforms.

The GCC expressed its deep concern over the acts of violence and the terrorist crimes, including attacks on sacred places of worship, and called all national factions of Iraq to stand united to confront the attempts to divide Iraq and to cause sectarian discord. The GCC affirmed that achieving security and stability in Iraq requires a political and security solution that remedies the causes of the crisis, removes the roots of the sectarian discord and terrorist acts and attains real Iraqi national reconciliation; a solution that supports and enhances all efforts being made by the Iraqi government in this connection.

The GCC also re-stressed the respect for the integrity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq, the rejection of the calls for its partition and division, the emphasis on non-interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and regarding national unity as the key to the solution in Iraq.

Since 1992, the issue of the three islands, the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, belonging to the State of United Arab Emirates has become a constant item on the agenda of the Supreme Council and the Ministerial Council. The GCC States have supported the UAE stand in this regard and demanded Iran to end its occupation of these three islands and enter into direct negotiations with UAE about the said three islands or refer the issue to the International Court of Justice.

Among the important steps in this connection was the resolution of the Ministerial Council at its 71st session (Jeddah 3 July 1999) that called for the formation of a ministerial committee composed of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and His Excellency the Secretary General with the aim to develop a mechanism for initiating direct negotiations for the settlement of this issue. The GCC States then hoped that Iran would welcome that committee, but it is regrettable that Iran even refused to receive that committee.

In an expanded international effort, the GCC States urged the world countries as well as the regional and international groupings to convince Iran to accept the peaceful efforts made by UAE for the settlement of this issue.

Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands since November 1971 has been a great source of concern that impeded the possible expansion of relations between the GCC States and Iran. The GCC States developed a collective framework of relations wherein the Supreme Council adopted, in 1987, constant and common approach for dealing with Iran. Those approaches were based on the principle of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and the rejection of the policy of fait accompli.

The Ministerial Council has also urged to activate the amicable dialogue, bilateral contacts and exchanging of visits with Iran at all levels, which led to signing several bilateral agreements and MOUs that have covered economic and security areas. The GCC States have called Iran, through the consecutive concluding statements and press communiqués issued by the Supreme Council and the Ministerial Council respectively, to respond to the initiative of the GCC and UAE for the settlement of the issue of the three islands through peaceful means.

Committed to the firm principles of the GCC calling for the respect of international legality and the settlement of disputes through peaceful means, the GCC reiterated the importance of reaching a peaceful solution of this crisis and urged Iran to continue international dialogue, to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to abide by the IAEA standards. The GCC demanded Israel to accede to the Convention on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to subject all its nuclear installations to the IAEA inspection system.

The GCC called the international community to press Israel to respond to the international community's requirements in this respect. The GCC had also demanded that the region of the Middle East as well as the Gulf area be free of weapons of mass destruction. The GCC also affirmed the right of the countries of the region to possess expertise in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In this connection, the GCC States declared that they would conduct a study on developing a common program for the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes subject to the international standards and regulations.

Since its establishment on 25 May 1981, the GCC had declared its clear position towards the Palestinian issue and the peace process and expressed its support to the rights of the Palestinian people; rejecting and denouncing the aggressive policies and acts against the Palestinian people.

The GCC also made its efforts and good offices with a view to reaching a long-standing, fair and comprehensive solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict. The declaration of the first session of the Supreme Council (May 1981) reflected full commitment by the GCC States to support the peace process in the Middle East.

The GCC States then declared that "sustainable stability in the Gulf depends on the enforcement of peace in the Middle East, and stressed the need for a just solution of the Palestinian issue; a solution that ensures the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to return home and establish their independent state, calling for Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands, particularly Holy Jerusalem.

Hence, the GCC States had supported the initiatives aimed at finding a comprehensive fair solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proposed two initiatives for the solution of this conflict in 1981 and later in 2002. Represented in H.E. the Secretary General, the GCC States have also participated in the Peace Conference at Madrid in 1991. The GCC States do adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Arab Summit Conference at Beirut in 2002. The GCC States as well as the other Arab countries reiterated at the 20th Summit that was held in Damascus in March 2007 that the Arab Peace Initiative depends on the Israel's adherence and implementation of its commitments within the framework of international references for securing peace in the region.

The GCC States also welcomed the "road map" that provides for the elimination of the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian State, and the implementation of the obligations based on Madrid Conference, the “Land for Peace” principle, and the UN resolutions. The GCC States also supported the efforts of the International Quartet Committee sponsoring the peace process and those of the international community for implementation of the “road map” based on the Arab peace initiative.

Within the same context, the GCC States welcomed the Security Council's unanimous adoption of resolution 1515 on November 2003 supporting the “road map” for reaching a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the establishment of two states that living side-by-side in peace and security, stressing the need for a permanent and comprehensive peace for all parties including Syria and Lebanon.

The GCC States also supported Annapolis Conference called for by US President, George W. Bush wherein all parties concerned with the peace process had participated. The Conference objective was to launch direct negotiations on all tracks with a view to reaching a comprehensive settlement of the peace process based on the Arab Peace Initiative , the road map and the relevant Security Council's resolutions and to enter into direct negotiations on the various issues of the final solution of the Arab-Israel conflict. The GCC States regretted that Israel did not adhere to its commitments made at Annapolis Conference concerning the acceleration of negotiations with the Palestinian National Authority and the establishment of the Palestinian state within the specified timeframe.

The GCC also expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the atrocious acts exercised by the Israeli troops against the Palestinian people and the killing and terrorization of civilians, women and children on the Palestinian occupied lands. The GCC strongly condemned Israel's raids and aggression on Gaza Strip and called the Security Council and international community, especially the United States, to assume full responsibility for and to take necessary measures to protect the Palestinian people.

The GCC also expressed its disappointment with the acts of destruction and excavation being made by the Israeli occupation authorities within the periphery of the Holy Aqsa Mosque, and called the international community and UNESCO to intervene and to stop these acts targeting the sacred places, acts that provoke and insult the sentiment of Muslims.

The GCC also reiterated that just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East will only be achieved by establishing an independent and viable Palestinian State having Jerusalem as its capital, the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Arab Golan back to the line of demarcation set in June 4th 1967 and from Sheb'aa farms in the South of Lebanon.

The GCC concluded that the absence of a just solution of the Palestinian issue and the extreme and continued suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people are the real causes of the escalation of diverse disputes in the Middle East. The GCC called the international community to give utmost priority to reaching a just solution of that issue in line with the rules of international legality as the provisional solutions or partial settlements have proved to be inadequate or unacceptable to secure security and stability.

As regards the disputes among the Palestinian people, the GCC called the Palestinian factions to stop fighting and to resort to dialogue and negotiation in order to enhance national unity and maintain the gains achieved by the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle over the past years.

The GCC also welcomed the "Makkah Agreement" reached by the Palestinians aimed at ending the infighting and forming the national unity government. That Agreement was the fruit of the great efforts made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, for helping the Palestinian factions reach such a significant historical agreement in the process of the Palestinian people.

Commending the efforts made by the Republic of Yemen, the GCC welcomed the agreement signed by Hamas and Fatah movements whereby the two movements undertook to initiate dialogue based on the Yemeni initiative.

Since its establishment in 1981, the GCC has been supporting the Syrian demands for the restoration of its legitimate rights, and for the termination of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian and Arab lands, including the occupied Golan which was captured in the in 1967.

The GCC continued its support to the Syrian stand calling for full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan back to the lines of June 4 1967 based on Madrid reference and “the land for peace” principle and implementation of the two UNSC resolutions 242 and 338 holding Israel responsible for impeding this track.

Similarly the GCC expressed its solidarity with Syria against the American pressure in form of its decision to enforce and embargo on Syria. The GCC commended the Syrian position responsive to the calls for giving precedence to the language of dialogue and diplomacy for achieving mutual understanding and conflict resolution.

Lebanon has been the subject of special attention by the GCC since the first meeting of the GCC leaders in 1981, where the declaration of the 1st Session of the Council reflected the concern of the GCC States about the integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon. The GCC continued supporting the political, economic and security stability in Lebanon, condemning Israel's attacks on the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and calling the brotherly people of Lebanon to strengthen and unify their position.

The GCC expressed its deep concern over the Israeli attack on Lebanon in July 2006 and reaffirmed its support to the Lebanese people against any destruction or attack on Lebanon. The GCC also welcomed the UNSC resolution 1701 calling towards succession of military operations in Lebanon, and expressed its support to Lebanon in extending its full power and sovereignty on its national territories and to any international endeavor to restore its full rights, including its compensation for the human and financial loss incurred due to the Israeli aggression. The GCC also reaffirmed its support to Lebanon's call demanding to full Israeli withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories to the internationally accredited borders, including Sheb'aa farms in implementation of the UNSC resolutions 425 and 426.

In continuation of the political and economic support to Lebanon, including reconstruction, the GCC welcomed the positive conclusions of Paris Conference 3.

Following the events that had occurred in Lebanon since 2005, the GCC stressed that Lebanese people need to work together in order to secure unity and enhance security and stability, adhere to the legitimate constitutional institutions and resort to reason and dialogue in order to overcome the current situation that disturbs the stability of Lebanon, its national unity and independent political decision.

Given the Lebanese Dialogue Conference and the agreement reached at Doha in May 2008, the GCC appreciated and commended the great efforts made by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khakifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar and Chairman of the GCC Supreme Council, who could bring together all Lebanese factions to the "Doha Agreement" with a view to finding a way out of that political crisis. Those efforts supplemented the efforts made by the Arab League and the Ministerial Arab Committee chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabr Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar and the membership of his brothers Their Highnesses and Excellencies, Foreign Ministers of Arab countries. The GCC had congratulated and welcomed the election of H.E. Michael Suleiman as president of the Republic of Lebanon. The GCC reiterated that the "Doha Agreement" should be implemented by forming national unity government and initiating national dialogue. The GCC expressed its hope that Lebanon as well as the Lebanese people would enjoy security, stability and prosperity.

The GCC States also attached a great deal of attention to the situation in Somalia and expressed its regret for the ongoing crises of conflict and violence. The GCC called all disputing parties to put an end to the current war among them, and to resort to reason, negotiations and dialogue with a view to reaching an acceptable solution that would put an end to the sufferings of the Somali people and avoid division and foreign interference. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had patronized on September 16, 2007 the closing session of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference wherein the officials signed in Jeddah a national reconciliation agreement emanating from the Mogadishu Conference. The GCC re-invited the Somali parties to respect Jeddah Agreement and urged other Somali factions to accede to this agreement. The GCC further called for accelerating coordination between Somalia, the African Union and the Arab League with a view to developing a clear concept of the deployment of peacekeeping forces under leadership of United Nations in lieu of foreign forces.

The Council has been concerned with the developments in Sudan and has welcomed making the peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Movement, which was signed at Nairobi in January 2005. The agreement was an important historical event that would put an end to a critical era in the history of Sudan, hoping that it will contribute to the conclusion of a similar comprehensive peace agreement concerning the region of Darfur that will secure stability, security and prosperity in Sudan.

The Council is observing with concern the developments in the region of Darfur expressing its regret at the continuously deteriorating conditions and the consequent human sufferings. In this regard, the Council stressed the importance of the Peace Agreement signed by the Sudanese Government with the United Nations and the African Union outlining the duties and role of the AU and the UN in Darfur. The Council commended the major constructive efforts made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia in being instrumental in reaching this agreement.

Likewise, the GCC welcomed the UNSC resolution 1769 adopted on August 1, 2007, providing for the deployment of joint AU and UN peacekeeping forces in the Darfur region.

The GCC expressed the appreciation by its Member States of the efforts being made by the Sudanese Government and its positive and constructive cooperation with the UN in actively contributing towards ending the human suffering in Darfur and in accelerating the steps and actions necessary for achieving the humanitarian goals.

The Council urged the UN and the international community and the relevant sides to implement the resolution so as to bring about security and stability in Sudan. The GCC also called towards supporting the efforts of the Sudanese government aimed at ending the Darfur crisis wherewith to safeguard the unity and the complete sovereignty of Sudan on its national resources as well as to bolster its friendly relations with its neighbors.

The Council also welcomed the bilateral agreement between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of Chad signed under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia. The Council also welcomed the conclusion of a peace agreement between Chad and Sudan on the margins of the 11th OIC Summit held in Dakar, Senegal, expressing hope that this agreement would end the differences between the two sides, opening the horizons for security and peace in the region.

The GCC emphasized its concern for accelerating the development and modernization steps in the Arab World and the Arab League, and commended the positive results of Tunisia Summit 2004, that adopted the accord and solidarity instrument and the development and modernization instrument. The Council stressed that development and modernization should be inspired by the countries of the region, taking into account the peculiarities and conditions of each country in terms of the political, economic, cultural and religious aspects and that the gradual development and modernization would improve the opportunities of stability, security and prosperity in the region.

Manama Declaration issued by the Supreme Council at its 25th session (Manama, December 2004) emphasized that trend. The declaration indicated that the GCC States are undertaking full modernization to cope with the civilization requirements of the age within a framework of a strategy consistent with the ambitious programs aiming at fulfilling the aspirations and hopes of the GCC States and their peoples. The declaration renewed the solid belief that the substance of democracy should not be imported, but rather be sprung from the deep national identity.

The GCC dialogue pervades all levels, including, inter alia, the important meetings at Foreign Ministers level held on the sideline of the meetings of UN General Assembly in New York in September every year. It is based on the firm conviction that such dialogue is of a great importance in terms of fostering the GCC relations with these countries and international groupings and making their presence felt in the international arena. Because such disciplined dialogue would deepen mutual understanding about the issues discussed at the UN and its various bodies as well as the other regional and international issues.

Such dialogue is an indispensable gateway for promoting the policy of the GCC States aiming to support the Arab and Islamic causes at the international forums and stresses, at the same time, that the GCC States share the concerns of the free world and many concepts and civilization values, in addition to many shared interests that must be safeguarded and taken into consideration.

Through political dialogue, the GCC could achieve the following:

• Defending the Arab and Islamic issues at the international level, which had a positive impact on the correction of several negative concepts and images about the Arab world and Islamic issues causing the international community to sympathize with such issues; the GCC States have reiterated their rejection of offending any religions or symbols thereof.

• As regards the fight on terrorism, the GCC States have been successful in confronting the unjust campaign linking Islam to terrorism. The GCC States stressed that Islam is a religion that is opposed to all forms of terrorism.

• As regards the Palestinian issue and the peace in the Middle East, the GCC States stressed the importance of securing fair peace in the Middle East based on UN resolutions, particularly resolutions 242 and 338 and the "Land for Peace" principle. The GCC States have also highlighted the inhuman and racial Israeli practices in the occupied Arab lands, such practices that violate international laws and human rights. They have also stressed the right of the Palestinian people to legitimate struggle against occupation, and called for distinguishing between the lawful struggle for self-determination and terrorism.

• The GCC States have also pointed out in their dialogue to the State terrorism that Israel perpetrates against the Palestinians, such as the killing and destruction of houses, targeting civilians and national leaders and the destruction of the infrastructure of the Palestinian people.

As regards the mass destruction weapons, the GCC States have reiterated the importance of making the Middle East, including the Arab Gulf, free of mass destruction weapons and called all countries, including Israel, which possesses the biggest destructive nuclear stock in the region, to sign and ratify the relevant agreements and conventions and subject its nuclear installations to international surveillance.