The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states declared yesterday that Iraq is in "violation" of its commitments under UN resolutions to respect the security and sovereignty of neighbouring Kuwait state, but also welcomed Baghdad's "unconditional acceptance" of the return of the international weapons inspectors.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states declared yesterday that Iraq is in "violation" of its commitments under UN resolutions to respect the security and sovereignty of neighbouring Kuwait state, but also welcomed Baghdad's "unconditional acceptance" of the return of the international weapons inspectors.
In a final statement at the conclusion of their annual summit here, the six members of the GCC also said the UN was expected to ensure the inspectors end their task as soon as possible.
The two-day meeting was chaired by Qatar's Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Overshadowed by the absence of several leaders, including the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the summit's discussions were dominated by Iraq issue with a U.S.-led war against that country seeming increasingly inevitable.
"The council has welcomed Iraq's unconditional acceptance of the Security Council resolution 1441, allowing for the return of UN weapons inspectors, and urged the international community to help both Iraq and the inspectors to complete their task at the earliest possible time in order to pave the way for lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq and to ease the plight of the Iraqi people," said the final communiqué, read by the GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al Attiya.
But it said the council expressed its "deep concern over the allegations against Kuwait" contained in a speech by the Iraqi President Saddam Hussain earlier this month.
The speech, the statement added, "violates international and Arab resolutions regarding the necessity of respecting the security, sovereignty and stability of Kuwait within its internationally-recognised borders."
With an obvious omission of any reference to the possible American threat of force, the summit urged Iraq to fully comply with UN resolutions and "refrain from engaging in actions that would increase the regional tension and the plight of the Iraqi people."
The expected American war will be launched from U.S. bases in the region, Gulf analysts say. The biggest of those bases is the one in Qatar, the recently-established Al Udeid.
Qatar earlier this month signed a military agreement with the U.S. under which, American officials claimed, Doha agreed to give the U.S. forces wide-ranging concessions in case of a war against Iraq.
The agreement has sparked anger among Qatar's Gulf neighbours and around the Arab world.
"The whole matter has been blown out of proportions by the media for certain aims as a result of the current circumstances," Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Qatar's Foreign Minister, told a press conference shortly after the summit's conclusion.
We could have signed it in secret the way the others did," he added, "but we have made it public because we have nothing to hide."
He pointed out that Qatar was one of the last states to open their doors to foreign bases. "Logically, we were supposed to be the first people (to do so) because of our small size," he said, stressing that the U.S.-Qatar agreement was not directed against Iraq or any other country.
"The foreign presence in the area, especially the American, is not aimed only to defend the region's states, but to protect American interests as well," he said.
The Iraqis, and everyone else, realise that Qatar opposes the war against Iraq, he said.
"The participation in any military action against Iraq would be a painful thing and we are trying very hard to keep our distance from it," he said.
He accused sections of Saudi media of spreading 'rumours" about his country's position on the Iraqi issue. He said for many years, U.S. planes have been attacking Iraq from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah, reportedly upset about a recent programme on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel, boycotted the summit. The kingdom was represented by a ministerial level delegation led by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal.
"The level of representation of any country is up to that country. The important thing is that all members take part in the summit," Sheikh Hamad said. "We would have liked to see Prince Abdullah here (because he would have) made a valuable addition to the conference, but it was a Saudi decision."
He said Qatar was not offering an apology to the Saudis. "We have not done anything wrong to apologise for it. But we would like to see a bilateral constructive dialogue that would clear all misunderstandings."
Speaking briefly to Gulf News following the summit's concluding session, Prince Saud said his country was "determined to consolidate the GCC joint process," despite the row with Qatar.
Diplomats and officials taking part in the conference said the GCC must not be affected by this dispute or the one between Bahrain and Qatar. His Majesty the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also skipped the summit and sent his foreign minster instead.
The Qatari foreign minister said "it is unfortunate" that some leaders have chosen to stay away at a time of regional tension.
In addition to the Iraqi issue, the summit's final communiqué said the escalating Israeli aggression against the Palestinians was another threat to stability of the region.
It called upon the international community "to pressure Israel to stop these actions" and "to provide an international protection to the Palestinian people to enable them to hold the elections and begin the political reforms required from them."
It also urged the world to help free the Middle East, "including the Gulf region", from all weapons of mass destruction, particularly the nuclear arsenal amassed by Israel.
Turning to the issue of the Iranian-occupied UAE islands, the summit said it was encouraged by the recent contacts between the two governments and hoped those contacts would result in a peaceful end to the issue.
While it reiterated the GCC's condemnation of all forms of terrorism "regardless of its sources or motives, and in any place," the communiqué said the world must distinguish between terrorism and the legitimate right of resisting occupation.
Concerning inter-GCC issues, the statement said the summit has welcomed a Qatari proposal to initiate a "Gulf dialogue" that aims to develop the council's joint action towards the full integration on all levels.
It also urged the members to reform their education systems, saying the implementation of a joint plan to upgrade curricula was underway.
Finally, it said the leaders have asked the advisory panel "to carry out a comprehensive study and suggest ways to address the issue of the demographic structural imbalance (in the six countries) and how to enhance the social and economic role of (Gulf) women."
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