HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and HE the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, HE Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, held a press conference today, Tuesday, 10 December 2019, at the conclusion of the 40th summit of the GCC Supreme Council.

At the beginning of the conference, HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud welcomed the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the representatives of various media. He said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, met their Majesties and Highnesses, his brothers, at the GCC leaders' Summit in its 40th session. In response to the desire of the brotherly United Arab Emirates for the Kingdom to host this session, wishing them all the best in chairing the ministerial and technical meetings for the year 2020, and expressing his thanks to the brothers in the Sultanate of Oman for their successful efforts at the 39th session.

He added that their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC States, discussed today many issues related to the GCC House, which aim to achieve integration and interdependence among its States in all fields. Preserving the gains made since the council's establishment, including the leaders ’affirmation of the importance of the cohesion and strength of the Cooperation Council, and enhance the GCC joint work. They also discussed many regional and international issues. 

After that, HE Dr.Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani delivered a speech in which he affirmed that the meeting of their Majesties and Highnesses leaders of the GCC states, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, May Allah protect them, was as usual a brotherly, fruitful and constructive meeting, which expressed the deep relations and historic ties that bring together the Member States and their citizens, and the sincere desire to strengthen the GCC cooperation and integration in various fields.

He said that the GCC Supreme Council affirmed its keenness on the cohesion and strength of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the unity among its members, for what they share of special relationships and common trait, and their desire to achieve more coordination, integration and interdependence among them in all fields, throughout the GCC journey , in order to achieve the aspirations of the GCC citizens, stressing that the GCC States stands together in facing any threat to any of them.

He added that the GCC Supreme Council praised the sincere efforts made by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, May Allah protect him, to bridge the rift that has marred relations between member states, and expressed its support for these efforts and the importance of continuing them within the framework of the one GCC House. 

The Secretary General stated that the GCC Supreme Council discussed the developments of the GCC joint work, and stressed the importance of preserving the gains of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the achievements of its integrative path. He directed the competent entities of the member states, the GCC General Secretariat, and the ministerial and technical committees to redouble the efforts to achieve the lofty goals set forth in the statute of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

He added that the GCC Supreme Council expressed its satisfaction with the progress made in implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to enhance the GCC joint work, and mandated the ministerial and technical entities, councils, and committees to redouble the efforts to complete the remaining steps, according to their timetables.

Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani said that Their Majesties and Highnesses discussed a number of important issues related to the GCC joint work, and the recommendations submitted by the relevant ministerial committees and the GCC General Secretariat, and took appropriate decisions regarding them, which, with God's help, would consolidate this blessed journey and achieve the noble goals that the GCC leaders and peoples aspire to. 

He added that the GCC Supreme Council adopted the recommendations of the Joint Defense Council at its 16th session and blessed the establishment of the Gulf Academy for Defense and Security Studies, and approved its financial budget. The Supreme Council also welcomed the opening of the official headquarters of he International Alliance for the Protection and the Safety of Maritime Navigation and ensuring the safety of sea lanes, in the Kingdom of Bahrain in November 2019 confirming that this will enhance the security and protection of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman and Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well.

The Supreme Council also adopted the recommendations of the GCC Interior Ministers at their 36th meeting, and blessed the holding of the joint security exercise "Arab Gulf Security 2" in the United Arab Emirates, next year.

He said that the Supreme Council approved a number of issues in regards to economic, development and legislative affairs, among them; the unified law for real estate owners, the amendment to the Trademarks Law, the GCC Environment Action Programmes for 2020, the GCC new cultural strategy for 2020-2030, the workforce joint work strategy, the guide to best practices in Housing financing and the internal organization of the Center for Translation and Arabization, and care for the Arabic Language.

The Secretary General noted that the Supreme Council also agreed that the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee should complete the requirements of the GCC joint work in the economic framework, and assign the relevant ministerial committees to review non-tariff restrictions. The Supreme Council also approved the studies prepared by the Advisory Board of the Supreme Council, and referred them to the relevant committees and entities to use them and instruct the General Secretariat to follow up on that. The Supreme Council also welcomed the holding of the 41st session of the Supreme Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

He added that the Supreme Council also approved the nomination of the State of Kuwait for HE Brother Dr. Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf to take over the position of Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council as of April 1 2020. Congratulating His Excellency on the honor of assuming this great responsibility, asking Allah, to assist him in performing the tasks entrusted to him, and crowning his efforts and endeavors with success.

The Secretary General also extended his sincere thanks, appreciation and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for the high confidence in his nomination to take on this great responsibility, and what he had received from HM the King of care, advice, guidance, and follow-up; expressing his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC States for their support and directives.

The Secretary General also praised the full care, support and cooperation he received from their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers, and the sincere efforts of the ministerial committees, as well as the giving and sincerity of the GCC Secretariat staff, expressing their loyalty and pride in this blessed journey.

The Secretary General also expressed sincere thanks and gratitude to all media outlets, expressing deep appreciation for their sincere efforts and their coverage of the work and activities of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its General Secretariat, and their follow-up to the GCC joint work.

Then the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary General responded to questions from journalists and the media.