DOHA: The 36th session of the GCC Supreme Council concluded in Riyadh yesterday with the member states declaring their strong support towards the restoration of legitimacy in Yemen political solution to the Syrian crisis and the fight against terrorism.

The Council also agreed on a several joint initiatives to strengthen cooperation among the GCC states.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took part in the closing session chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia at Al Dir’aiyah Palace in Riyadh.

At the outset of the session GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani read out the Riyadh declaration.

The declaration carried by Saudi state news agency SPA called for holding an international conference for the reconstruction of Yemen after the Yemeni parties reach the sought political solution and develop a practical programme for the rehabilitation of the Yemeni economy to facilitate its integration with the Gulf economy Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.

The Council expressed its support for a political solution in Syria and outcomes of Syrian opposition conference held in Riyadh on December 8 to 10 2015 ensuring the unity of Syrian territories and independence in accordance with the principles of Geneva (1) welcoming the results of Vienna conference of the concerned parties.

The Council expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for the genuine and sincere efforts of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during his chairmanship of the 35th session of the Supreme Council and the significant steps and achievements. It reiterated its support for Qatar in hosting the 2022 World Cup and backing of anything that would lead to its success wishing Qatar and its people more progress and prosperity.

The Council rejected of all forms of terrorism and extremism whatever the reasons and justifications are and no matter the source is. It also reiterated its stance regarding the draining of funding sources for terrorism its commitment to the fight against deviant thought on which terrorist groups are based and fed stressing that tolerance and coexistence between nations and peoples are among the bases of GCC states’ domestic and foreign policies.

The Council condemned the terrorist attacks that took place by ISIS in the US Tunisia Egypt Mali Beirut Baghdad and others stressing the GCC’s commitment to fight all sorts of terrorism in all its manifestations.

The meeting agreed to complete the remaining requirements of the Customs Union set forth in Article I of the economic agreement between the GCC countries including decisive actions to facilitate speed up and simplify customs points between the GCC countries as a prelude to cancellation proceedings and the completion of preferential treatment for GCC nationals and their families in all intra-ports without exception.

The Council decided to complete steps of implementation of the common market and to make things easy it has been agreed on the formation of the judicial authority which has become a pressing issue where the GCC leaders are keen on finishing that up by next year.

The Council reviewed the recommendations and reports of the Ministerial Council the competent ministerial committees and the Secretariat General and approved the following: Unified system (law) for consumer protection in the GCC as mandatory law; Unified rules for acquisitions in the GCC financial markets; Executive Regulations for the equality of the citizens of the GCC countries to benefit from health services in government clinics and hospitals affiliated to the ministries of health in each country; Strategic inventory procedures manual of drugs vaccines and medical supplies in cases of emergency.

The Council called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibility to support the Syrian refugees lauding the efforts and assistance provided by the GCC countries to alleviate the sufferings of the displaced people and refugees.

The Council expressed its deep concern at the increasing hostile rhetoric racist and inhumane against refugees generally and Muslims particularly reiterating its call for the countries humanitarian agencies civil society organisations and the media to prevent any racist speech and to contribute to raising awareness and responsibility in order to provide the necessary protection for the displaced and refugees who are fleeing from the flames of the terrorist groups and unfair authorities

The Council stressed that comprehensive just and lasting peace will not be achieved without Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Arab lands that were occupied in 1967 and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

The Council reiterated its firm rejection of Iran’s continuing occupation of the three UAE islands of Greater Tunb Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa and rejected the constant Iranian interference in domestic affairs of GCC.

The Council also called on the need to adhere to the agreement signed between Iran with the (5+1) group last July 2015 concerning the Iranian nuclear file stressing the significant role of the IAEA in this respect

As for Iraq the Council voiced hope that the decision of the Iraqi government and parliament to take practical steps to address corruption and deteriorating services will lead to a correction in the path of the political process.

The Council stressed the political solution in Libya under the brokerage of the United Nations and urged all parties to the conflict to favour the supreme interest of restoring security and stability in Libya. The GCC leaders also welcomed the generous invitation of Bahrain’s King H M Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to hold the GCC Supreme Council’s 37th session in Bahrain in 2016.

The Peninsula