Politically, the GCC member countries have thrown much weight behind UN efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis in line with Statement of Geneva One and UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2254, which underlined immediate reforms that would fulfill the Syrian people’s expectations, maintain their country’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and reject any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs. The GCC chief condemned the recent Israeli occupation attacks on Syria, the occupation of the border area and settlement expansions in the occupied Golan Heights as a serious violation of international laws, UNSC resolutions and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

In this context, he called on the international community to take on its due role and responsibilities by moving to halt such aggressions on the Syrian territory and oblige the Israeli occupation to pull out of all occupied Syrian lands. Al-Budaiwi commended the positive steps adopted by the caretaker Syrian government for power transition and safety of Syrian civilians, along with efforts to maintain Syrian state bodies and achieve national reconciliation as a core pillar of security and stability. He also urged all Syrian parties and groups to prioritize their country’s supreme interests and national unity, and to adopt dialogue to meet the Syrian people’s hopes of security, stability, development and prosperity. On Lebanon, the GCC chief quoted the final communique of the 45th GCC gathering as having restated the bloc’s unwavering support for the Lebanese people and their country’s security and stability, in addition to its condemnation of serious Israeli occupation atrocities. He also underlined the significance of all-out political and economic reforms aiming at enabling Lebanon to overcome its political and economic crisis, implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701, home return of refugees and internally displaced persons, restoration of security and stability and respect of Lebanon’s territorial integrity, political independence and sovereignty. He concluded by saying that Kuwait-hosted meeting reflects the GCC member countries’ attention to all Arab and Muslim causes and their commitment to promoting cooperation and ensuring regional security and stability.

The Ministerial Council of the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday urged all parties of the Syrian people to join hands and seek bonding on the national higher interests’ bases and affirmed solid support for Lebanon’s sovereignty. The GCC council, in a statement marking the conclusion of the 46th session, called on the Syrian people to uphold national unity, launch comprehensive national dialogue for restoring security and stability to the country. The council, the session of which was chaired by Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, affirmed the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of the sisterly Arab Republic of Syria, its independence, and territorial unity, rejecting meddling in its internal affairs, affirming the rejection of terrorism and chias. The GCC ministers applauded the steps that have been taken to protect civilians, avert blood spilling, achieve national conciliation, preserve the Syrian State assets, dissolve the militias and the armed groups and restrict weapons’ possession to the State “as these steps are based for safeguarding Syria’s security, stability, restoring its regional and international status.”

They acclaimed a call by the UN Secretary-General to form a special mission to aid the Syrians in the transitional process, with emphasis on the necessity fo abide by the UN charter that calls for respecting the State sovereignty, non-interference in states’ local affairs and resolving conflicts peacefully. They condemned the recurring Israeli attacks on Syria, occupation of the buffer zone in the border region in fl agrant breach of Syria’s sovereignty and the disengagement accord worked out in 1974. On Lebanon, the GCC council affirmed the council’s unwavering stances in support of the country’s sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial unity, noting necessity to conduct full-scale structural political and economic reforms. The council affirmed necessity to adhere to the cease-fire agreement, and condemned recurring Israeli attacks that have left thousands of civilian as victims, forcing many to flee their homes, destroying infrastructural facilities, civil and health installations. It stressed oan the necessity to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the Taif accord.  (KUNA)