General Secretariat – New York
His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), confirmed that the strategic partnership and close cooperation between the GCC states and the Benelux countries enhance efforts to address current regional and international challenges.
This statement was made during the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC states and the Benelux countries, held today, Wednesday, September 26, 2024, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, who is currently presiding over the ministerial council, with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers from the GCC states and the Benelux Union (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).
In his address, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General stressed that this meeting establishes a regular and open platform for discussing political, security, economic, and cultural issues of mutual interest, marking an important step toward enhancing coordination and cooperation between both sides in various fields.
His Excellency also referred to the upcoming joint GCC-European summit scheduled for October 16, 2024, in Brussels, noting that it will significantly contribute to strengthening relations between the GCC and the European Union and will lead to common positions that reflect mutual interests in bilateral and multilateral issues.
During his speech, he expressed concern over the rapidly evolving developments in the region, pointing to escalating tensions resulting from the stalled peace process, the Israeli war on Gaza, the deteriorating situation in the West Bank and Lebanon, and disturbances in the Red Sea, in addition to threats posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles. He emphasised that these challenges pose a significant risk to security and peace, not only in the region but globally, calling on like-minded countries to unite efforts to confront them through respect for international law and humanitarian principles.
He stressed the need for a clear international vision to address these crises and implement international resolutions impartially and without exceptions, affirming that the continuation of these crises is due to the absence of such a vision.
He expressed confidence that the meeting represents an important step toward enhancing both sides’ commitment to collaborative efforts to face challenges and achieve security and stability in the region and the world.
In conclusion, His Excellency praised the depth of historical and strategic relations between the GCC states and the Benelux countries, reaffirming the Council’s commitment to enhancing these relations in various fields to serve mutual interests and promote stability and development.
