Russian pledge for continued military support for Syria’s Bashar Assad despite growing concerns expressed by the Arab countries will further worsen the situation in Syria and the region as a whole, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir warned on Tuesday.
“The increased support to the illegitimate regime of Syria will further escalate the situation that will eventually hamper all efforts to restore peace and security in the region,” he said.
Al-Jubeir, who was speaking during a GCC foreign ministers’ meeting in Riyadh, gave an overview of the problems and challenges facing the region.
He also condemned Israel’s onslaught on Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying that Israel’s aggressive policies and postures are contributing to the instability in the Middle East.
The GCC ministerial council called on all stakeholders “to stop genocide in Syria and to save that country from the clutches of Assad.”
The ministers expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, while lauding the humanitarian assistance provided by the GCC countries to Syrian people in the wake of the difficult humanitarian conditions.
The GCC foreign ministers collectively and strongly condemned the Israeli action at Al-Aqsa Mosque, while welcoming the United Nations’ move to recognize Palestine as an “observer state.”
The foreign ministers also reaffirmed the need for closer cooperation with friendly nations across the world to achieve peace and security in the Middle East region and in those countries which have been tossed into turmoil.
“The GCC ministerial meeting, being organized at a time of exceptional regional circumstances, also called on the international stakeholders to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to ensure peace and security in the region,” said Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah, who chaired the session.
The GCC foreign ministers met in the Saudi capital Tuesday within the framework of the 136th GCC ministerial session.
The foreign ministers also exchanged notes about the subjects to be discussed at the UN General Assembly meeting and also at other international forum that will he held on the sidelines of the UN meeting.
Referring to the Iranian nuclear deal and the policy of interference adopted by Tehran, the GCC ministerial council called on Iran “to stop meddling in the affairs of the GCC.”
Touching on the situation in Yemen, the foreign ministers stressed the GCC keenness to preserve Yemen’s unity and territorial integrity, respect of its sovereignty, support of the legitimacy and completion of the political process in accordance with the GCC initiative.
On the growing menace of terrorism, the GCC ministerial council called for more joint efforts to check this evil. They called for further efforts and take all necessary measures to eliminate the root causes of terrorism, that is threatening global peace, security and stability.
