GCC reiterates support for Syria, Lebanon

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, has reiterated the Gulf countries' support for Syria and Lebanon. In his speech at the 46th extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council, Albudaiwi affirmed that the convening of the meeting comes to coordinate the positions of the GCC states in light of the ongoing events in Syria and Lebanon, and the accompanying rapid developments, and to reaffirm the GCC's support for the two countries, for everything that would enhance their security and stability, in various circumstances and situations.

"This meeting reflects the great keenness and interest of the GCC states in the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations. It seeks to enhance joint co-operation among the GCC states to address current challenges and work towards achieving security and stability in the region, which contributes to supporting sustainable development and strengthening Arab and Islamic unity," he stated.

He explained that since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the Cooperation Council has adopted a firm stance and a clear policy towards the crisis in Syria, and has made continuous efforts to support the brotherly Syrian people, including Kuwait's hosting of a number of donor conferences to support the humanitarian situation in Syria, and the provision of relief and humanitarian assistance by the GCC states to the brotherly Syrian people amounting to more than $8bn, and its hosting of more than 2mn residents from the Syrian brothers, who enjoy all the rights and privileges that guarantee them a decent life among their Gulf brothers.

"On the political level, the GCC states have supported the efforts of the United Nations and its special envoy aimed at a political solution to the Syrian crisis, in accordance with the Geneva 1 statement and Security Council resolution No. (2254), in which the Security Council called on the former Syrian regime to exercise wisdom and work to achieve immediate reforms that meet the aspirations of the Syrian people, preserve its unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and reject any foreign interference in its internal affairs," Albudaiwi said.

In this context, he stressed that the repeated Israeli attacks on the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic, and the Israeli occupation forces' occupation of the buffer zone on the Syrian border, as well as the Israeli government's decision to expand the construction of settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, are a flagrant violation of international laws and Security Council resolutions, and the disengagement agreement signed between Syria and Israel (1974).

He called on the international community to play its role and responsibilities to stop these attacks on Syrian lands, and the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Syrian territories, especially since all GCC states welcomed the contents of the statement issued by the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria, which was held on December 14, 2024, in Aqaba, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Furthermore, Albudaiwi praised the positive steps taken by the interim Syrian government in the peaceful transfer of power, ensuring the safety of civilians, and the positions it announced to preserve Syrian state institutions and resources, and achieve national reconciliation, as key pillars for maintaining security and stability, and restoring Syria's regional role and international standing.

The GCC chief stressed the need for the concerted efforts of all parties and components of the Syrian people, and prioritising the supreme interest and national unity, and consecrating the language of dialogue, to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people in consolidating security, stability, development, and prosperity.

He stressed the keenness and interest of the GCC states in their brotherly and historical relations, and their strong ties with the Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic, and making every effort to ensure their security and stability, which contributes to their prosperity and the sustainable decent living of their peoples.