US Secretary of State: We want a region that is preoccupied with economic prosperity, not provoking crises and producing weapons
The joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the friendly United States of America was held yesterday, in the presence of the foreign ministers from both sides.
The GCC side was headed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, while the American side was headed by Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States of America.
Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, participated in the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech in which he conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and their wishes for this meeting of success and success.
He said that our region is going through a pivotal stage, as the attacks against our countries, peoples and institutions have put us to a test that we never hoped to face, but at the same time they have revealed the strength and solidity of our societies, the unity of our peoples who have rallied around their leaders, and the efficiency of our institutions and defense forces in protecting lives and maintaining security and stability.
The minister added that if the material damage could be repaired, the effects of these attacks extended beyond the infrastructure, as the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries lived in a state of uncertainty, and the security and tranquility that characterized our region were exposed to unprecedented turmoil.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that this experience strengthened our determination that such attacks do not become commonplace, and to continue working with our partners to consolidate the foundations of lasting peace, security and stability for future generations.
He said that after the grave challenges we faced, we see today a glimmer of hope for our region in light of the diplomatic efforts that led to a cessation of hostilities, through the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and Iran, with the support of mediation efforts carried out by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the State of Qatar, and the restoration of freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In this regard, we welcome the Sultanate of Oman’s announcement of the establishment of a temporary sea corridor for ships wishing to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Foreign Minister stressed that despite the importance of this progress, it is necessary for Iran to fully adhere to all of its commitments, including the commitments contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.
He said that in addition to preventing Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon and preserving freedom of navigation, achieving sustainable regional security requires putting a final end to missile and drone attacks, stopping support for militias, and ceasing to interfere in the sovereignty of our countries, noting the importance of addressing the consequences of these attacks, in a manner consistent with Security Council Resolution No. 2817.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs added that the Kingdom of Bahrain is deeply proud of its partnership with the United States of America, embodied in the Comprehensive Agreement on Security Integration and Prosperity (C–SIPAAs a framework for cooperation in the fields of security, economy and technology, we look forward to expanding the horizons of this partnership in a way that serves the stability and energy security of our region.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed a basic principle of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is that the security of the GCC countries is an indivisible whole, and that any threat to the security of one of its countries is a threat to the security of the entire Council. He said that this principle, stipulated in the Joint Defense Agreement, remains the basic foundation of our cooperation with our partners, especially the United States of America.
He added that the meeting’s agenda addresses a number of important regional priorities, foremost of which is supporting the unity, sovereignty and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic, preserving the stability of the Lebanese Republic, and advancing peace efforts in the Gaza Strip through the Peace Council, in a way that contributes to achieving a just and comprehensive peace.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that the GCC countries, as they move forward with their strategic choice based on peace and good neighbourliness, look forward to a new chapter for our region based on respect for the sovereignty of states, adherence to international law, and the protection of international waterways, in partnership with the United States of America, in a way that enhances peace, security and prosperity.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also delivered a speech in which he expressed his thanks to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting this important meeting that brings together partners, allies, and friends who have long-standing friendship, alliance, and cooperation. He said that the United States has worked closely with the GCC countries over decades on a variety of issues, but all were driven by a common goal of promoting stability, security, and prosperity, not only for this region, but also for the United States, and ultimately for other countries around the world.
The US Secretary of State said that this alliance was subjected to a real test in light of recent events, and it passed this test with great success, noting that the level of cooperation, coordination, and friendship that brought us together during these difficult circumstances was tested, and all of them proved their strength and durability.
He added that this visit today came to express gratitude and appreciation for all forms of cooperation and assistance that the United States has received, and for all that we have been able to accomplish together, adding that we are now entering a new phase, which we hope will lead to peace.
He said that what we want for this region is for it to be a place where people are concerned with achieving economic prosperity, not with causing problems or producing weapons, and to focus on improving the lives of their people economically, not on how to attack other countries.
He added that the United States realizes that there are challenges obstructing this path, but, with the help of the GCC countries, it will seek to seize the opportunity to enter into a constructive dialogue, which we hope will lead to agreements with Iran. We hope that this will lead to a positive outcome, especially if Iran takes the decision to transform from a revolutionary movement seeking to export its ideology to other countries to a national state focused on the well-being of its people.
The US Secretary of State spoke about the priorities of the United States of America, and said that although we want to reach an agreement, we do not want an agreement at any price. Rather, we want a good, real, verifiable agreement that is adhered to, and that it is important that any understandings reached, whether during the negotiation process or a year or two after it, are implemented and fully respected.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the US Secretary of State said that international waterways do not belong to any country, and this is a basic rule in the contemporary international system, without which chaos would spread throughout the world.
He added that no country in the world has the right to impose fees on the use of international waterways, and that will never be an acceptable condition in any agreement. He said that Iran will not possess a nuclear weapon, and that any agreement we enter into must clearly guarantee that this does not happen, and include verifiable measures that can be implemented and monitored.
The Minister said that we want to ensure that any decisions taken during this negotiating process always take into account the interests of our partners and allies in the region, and that no part of this agreement includes anything that would undermine the security, stability, or prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region.
At the end of his speech, the US Secretary of State expressed his thanks to the GCC countries for their friendship and cooperation, and for this alliance, not only in the defense field, but also in the economic field, stressing that the United States will remain committed to this process, and that it desires its success, and will ensure that any agreement reached does not conflict in any way with the interests of any of the GCC countries because you are our partners and allies.
During the meeting, developments in the regional situation were discussed, and the efforts made by the US administration to complete negotiations with Iran to ensure reaching a comprehensive peace agreement in implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, leading to ending military operations on all fronts, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation, and ensuring security and stability in the region.
The two sides stressed the need to maintain momentum and unity of position as negotiations continue to reach a more permanent end to hostilities and achieve the common goal of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon or possessing it in any way. The Ministers also welcomed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that free, unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation remains an essential element of regional and international security. The two sides also discussed regional issues, including the situations in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director-General of Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Dr. Yousef Abdul Karim Bucheery, Director-General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Ambassador Saeed Abdul Khaleq Saeed, Head of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector, Ambassador Nawar Abdullah Al-Mutawa, Acting Head of the Gulf Cooperation Council Affairs Sector, and Minister Plenipotentiary Salman Hassan Al-Jalahma, Head of the Americas Affairs Sector.
