Albudaiwi: GCC States Continue Supporting Palestinian People's Legitimate Rights

15 May 2024, Australia, Canberra: Protesters hold flags at a pro-Palestine rally outside Parliament House in Canberra. (dpa)
15 May 2024, Australia, Canberra: Protesters hold flags at a pro-Palestine rally outside Parliament House in Canberra. (dpa)
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Albudaiwi: GCC States Continue Supporting Palestinian People's Legitimate Rights

15 May 2024, Australia, Canberra: Protesters hold flags at a pro-Palestine rally outside Parliament House in Canberra. (dpa)
15 May 2024, Australia, Canberra: Protesters hold flags at a pro-Palestine rally outside Parliament House in Canberra. (dpa)

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Albudaiwi reaffirmed on Sunday the commitment of GCC member states to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. He emphasized their efforts to enable the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.
Albudaiwi made these remarks during a meeting at the GCC General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh with newly appointed Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mazen Mohammed Rateb Ghneim, SPA reported.
The meeting addressed several key issues, including the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the ongoing and serious violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people.
Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC's position as outlined in the final statement of the GCC Supreme Council during its 45th session in December 2024. The statement emphasized the centrality of the Palestinian cause, the need to end Israeli occupation, and support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all occupied Palestinian territories.
He called on all countries to finalize recognition procedures for the State of Palestine and urged collective international action to achieve a permanent solution.

This solution, he stressed, should ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions.
The Secretary-General also underscored the importance of intensifying efforts by the international community to resolve the conflict in a manner that upholds the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.



Qatar to Reopen Its Embassy in Syria on Tuesday

 A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)
A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)
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Qatar to Reopen Its Embassy in Syria on Tuesday

 A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)
A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)

Qatar will reopen its embassy in Syria on Tuesday after it was closed for more than 13 years, the Gulf country's foreign ministry said on Sunday, a week after Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.

Qatar's embassy in Damascus has been shut since July 2011 when it withdrew its ambassador from Damascus after a series of deadly crackdowns by Assad's regime on protesters - violence that led to the 13-year-long civil war.

Doha in recent years did not join efforts by several Arab countries to mend relations with Assad's government and re-establish diplomatic relations with Damascus.

A lightning advance by the opposition, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group led to the ouster of Assad on Dec. 8.

Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement its decision to reopen the embassy reflects its support for the Syrian people and their "struggle to attain their legitimate rights for a dignified life".