RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the United States, in a statement issued, stressed the importance of joint efforts to work towards de-escalation in the region. They affirmed their joint commitment to support diplomacy for the realisation of those goals.
The Gulf and American sides agreed about the important role of infrastructure projects in enhancing integration and interdependence in the region, besides contributing to stability and prosperity at the regional level.
After the joint ministerial meeting on GCC-US strategic partnership, held in Riyadh, the two sides stressed the need to support navigational rights and freedoms. They underlined collective efforts to address threats that might target the security of ships in waterways in the region.
The ministers also underscored the importance of confronting terrorism and extremism in all countries around the world.
The ministers welcomed the decision of Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations.
In this context, they stressed the importance of the region countries’ adhering to international law, including the United Nations Charter.
The two sides stressed the importance of ongoing peace efforts led by the United Nations in Yemen after the April 2022 truce and the calm that prevailed later. They hoped to see the realisation of a comprehensive political process leading to a permanent end to the conflict.
With regard to the Palestinian issue, the two sides stressed the need to refrain from all unilateral measures that undermine the two-state solution or raise the level of tension. They urged to maintain the historical status quo in holy places in Al Quds (Jerusalem).
The ministers hailed the special role of Jordan in this regard.
They also expressed their appreciation for Egypt's decisive role in mediating between armed factions in Gaza and Israel in the aftermath of the recent hostilities.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment towards reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis in a way that preserves Syria's unity and sovereignty, meets the aspirations of its people and complies with international humanitarian law and the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015).
The ministers commended the growing positive partnership between the GCC and Iraq.
They welcomed the progress in the electrical interconnection project aimed to link Iraq to the GCC electricity network.
The Gulf and US sides also expressed their deep concern over the recent outbreak of fighting in Sudan. They affirmed their support for diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities in Sudan.
The two parties expressed the conviction that there is no military solution to end the conflict. In this context, they urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to trash out a peaceful solution.
The ministers decided to hold a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Cyber Security later this year. They stressed the need to continue meetings among regular working groups to discuss defence issues.
They decided to hold another round of meetings of two working groups later this year— one on “Integrated Air-Missile Defence” and the other on “Maritime Security”. - ONA
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