Muscat, October 10 – The ministers of foreign affairs of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU) welcomed the State of Qatar’s hosting of the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha.
In the final statement of the 27th session of the joint ministerial council between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union in the Omani capital, Muscat, the joint ministerial council between the GCC and EU expressed its grave concern over the developments in the Palestinian territories, calling for protecting the civilians under the global principles of international humanitarian law.
The council stressed the pressing need for a political solution for the crisis, while the ministers of foreign affairs of GCC and EU underscored their ironclad commitment to the two-state solution, for two states to live safely side by side, based on the 1967 borders, in accordance with the principles of Arab peace initiative and all relevant United Nations’ resolutions, as well as protecting the historical a
nd religious status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem and the just settlement for refugees.
The statement stressed the significance of the constant financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian authorities to meet the humanitarian and development needs in the occupied Palestinian territories, reaffirming commitment to Paris Agreement on climate, emphasizing the pressing need to enhance the joint action in pursuit of mitigating the effects of climate change, protecting the environment, in addition to upgrading renewable energies and energy efficiency.
The joint council welcomed the substantial progress made in the implementation of the strategic partnership between GCC and EU announced in its 26th meeting held in Brussels in February 2022, to bolster and update the long-term participation laid out by the cooperation agreement of 1988.
The ministers stressed the importance of this partnership considering the mounting dan
gerous threats facing regional and international peace and security, along with the challenges facing the global economy.
The ministers concurred in convening a regular and organized dialogue between GCC states and EU in regional security at the level of senior officials with the formation of a working group, when necessary, within the framework of this security dialogue to further coordinate efforts on regional and global issues, including issues of the proliferation of nuclear, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), as well as maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, financing terrorism and terrorist ideology, trafficking in persons, narcotics trafficking, irregular immigration and organized crime, in addition to energy security, security of global food supplies and preparedness for disasters and response for contingencies.
Additionally, the council welcomed the outcomes of the 5th Trade and Investment Dialogue, held at the GCC in Riyadh in March 2023, and reaffirmed the need for the continu
ation of the distinguished trade and investment relationship between EU and GCC to increasingly spur trade cooperation and accessing the markets, pointing out that the EU Global Gateway strategy is intended to enhance the high quality major projects and sustainable investments in physical and non-physical infrastructure worldwide.
Source: Qatar News Agency