Leaders pledge support to Iraqis

Riyadh: The Gulf Cooperation Council's 27th Summit called for a solution to the problems facing Iraq from within the country and pledged all possible support to the Iraqis.

In a press conference at the conclusion of the summit, Prince Saud Al Faisal, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia said that the report issued by the Iraqi Study Group known as the Baker-Hamilton committee includes some positive points but fails to address other crucial issues, and that the issue of violence is not discussed properly in the report.

"We can't judge the Iraqi issue and the feasibility of the solution proposed by the report by words. Iraqis should realise by now that any solution to the problems of their country should come from within Iraq. A committee that based its experiences about the region from books and reports cannot offer Iraq a comprehensive and lasting solution. We look forward to see Iraqis taking action by themselves. The GCC will help Iraqis by offering all possible help to rescue the country from slipping into sectarian war," Prince Al Faisal said.

In Iraq, he said, there are three sources of violence in Iraq: "The violence initiated by militias of parties that are represented in the government. The existence of such groups is not acceptable and needs to be tackled swiftly. The second source of violence is of formations set to fight occupation, which have to be brought to the negotiation table and given the assurance that the occupation will not last and there is a deadline set for the foreign troops to leave the country.

"The violence initiated by terrorist groups, mainly non-Iraqis, have to be eliminated. Those terrorists are dangerous not only to Iraq, but to neighbouring nations and to world peace and stability," he said.

Meanwhile, the final communiqué read by Abdul Rahman Hamad Al Attiyah, Secretary-General of the GCC, called on all parties in Lebanon to serve the interests of the nation. "We look forward to seeing Lebanese supporting the legitimacy of their political system and stop pushing the country into political chaos," Al Attiyah said. The meeting condemned to assassination of the Lebanese Minister of Industry, Pierre Al Jemayel, adding that the current wave of violence must stop.

On the issues concerning the Gulf, the summit decided to reinforce Desert Shield and emphasise the right of the member states to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful uses.

It called on the international community to press Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty and declare the region free from nuclear weapons.

The leaders also urged that the Middle East, including the GCC region, be kept free from weapons of mass destruction, without prejudice to the right of the states of the region to acquire nuclear know-how for peaceful purposes within the bounds of international accords. In this respect, the council commissioned a study to create a GCC programme for nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

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Khalifa hails success of meeting

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan left Riyadh for home after leading the UAE's delegation to the 27th GCC summit (Jaber summit) which concluded here yesterday.

Shaikh Khalifa sent a cable to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, in which he expressed his satisfaction at the positive outcome of the two-day gathering which, he affirmed, would boost joint GCC action at all domains.

In his cable, the President thanked King Abdullah for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation during their stay in Riyadh.

"Your great efforts, patronage and good management of the meetings of the 27th summit of the GCC supreme council have been very instrumental in producing positive results for bolstering joint GCC action at all levels and making gains and achievements that meet aspirations and ambitions of our peoples for further progress, prosperity and stability," Shaikh Khalifa said of King Abdullah.

WAM