26 October 2009
Jeddah -- The Joint meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Red Sea bordering Countries concluded today at Jeddah Conferences Palace here, with participation of Saudi Arabia - the host country; Jordan ; UAE; Bahrain; Djibouti; Sudan; Oman; Kuwait; Egypt and Yemen.

The session chaired by Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Prince Admiral Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saud, addressed the piracy incidents near the Somali coastal line as a follow up of Riyadh Declaration which included a study on forming a Joint Arab Task forces comprising GCC and Red Sea bordering countries for a period of one year under one command.

The meeting led to the development of a vision to counter piracy in the Red sea, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Eden.

It also considered the issue of the formation of a naval task force of GCC, Arab and the Red Sea bordering countries that would strengthen the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Arabian Sea and Red Sea and highlight the need to address the risk of piracy in these seas to ensure stability in the region.

© Saudi Press Agency 2009