Kuwait Announces Completion of Gulf Summit Arrangements

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. (Photo: Getty Images)
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Kuwait Announces Completion of Gulf Summit Arrangements

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. (Photo: Getty Images)
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. (Photo: Getty Images)

Kuwait has completed preparations for hosting the 38th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, which is scheduled to take place on December 5 and 6, after overcoming several obstacles in light of the current Gulf crisis.

Amid an optimistic atmosphere, Kuwait is moving forward to receive Gulf leaders on Tuesday while ministerial committees are expected to start their meetings in preparation for the summit, which is the sixth in Kuwait since the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council on May 25, 1981.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah received First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah and GCC Secretary-General Abdul Latif al-Zayani, who gave the Emir details about the summit preparations.

Sheikh Sabah visited al-Tahrir Hall at Bayan Palace on Sunday to check on preparations for the 38th Session of the Supreme Council of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accompanied by Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

For his part, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah said on Sunday that his country has completed preparations for hosting the 38th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit.\

During his attendance of the UAE’s 46th National Day celebrations at the country’s embassy in Kuwait, he said: “Kuwait will welcome GCC leaders on Tuesday and Wednesday.”

A ministerial meeting is due to kick off on Monday ahead of the summit, added Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid, who hoped the talks would support the continuation of the bloc’s welcomed accomplishments.

In this context, Qatar´s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will attend the summit in Kuwait, Doha´s Foreign Minister said announced on Sunday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar´s leader had accepted the invitation to attend amid the region´s worst political crisis in years.

“I will attend the ministerial council on Monday and the Emir will attend the summit,” said the Qatari FM.

Kuwaiti sources did not comment on the mechanism adopted by the summit regarding the Qatar crisis, especially that three Gulf countries have cut off diplomatic relations with Doha on the eve of the crisis in June, accusing it of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region.

Kuwait hopes that the summit will maintain the representation of Gulf leaders and overcome current crisis between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain on one hand and Qatar on the other hand.



Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Need for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Need for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in August. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed on Friday the need for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah held telephone talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the Israeli escalation in the region, given the ongoing coordination and cooperation between Riyadh and Cairo.

An Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman said the FMs condemned the Israeli assault on Lebanon that has left hundreds dead and wounded.

He stressed Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s “full solidarity with Lebanon and its brotherly people during this crisis.”

They underlined the importance of offering all forms of humanitarian assistance to the people and enabling the state and all of its institutions to perform their duties and impose its sovereignty throughout the country.

The FMs expressed their categorical rejection of any measures that may impact Lebanon’s sovereignty across its territories.

Moreover, they warned that the prolongation of the escalation may have consequences on the people of the region.

Prince Faisal and Abdelatty called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 by all concerned parties.

Furthermore, the FMs called on the international community, especially the Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt will continue to coordinate to address the dangers in the Arab region caused by the Israeli assault against the Lebanese and Palestinian people.