PHOTO
08 December 2016
Manama/Doha: A joint summit between GCC leaders and British Prime Minister Theresa May, in Bahrain's capital Manama yesterday agreed to launch the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership to foster closer relations in all fields, including political, defence, security, and trade.
The two sides also agreed to enhance people-to-people contact, and develop collective approaches to regional issues.
The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in the summit, along with his Personal Representative H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and members of the official Qatari delegation.
Addressing the meeting, May said her country will spend over £3bn on defence in the Gulf region over the next decade, "spending more on defense in the Gulf than in any other region of the world." On the issue of Gulf security, May said: "We must also continue to confront state actors whose influence fuels instability in the region. So I want to assure you that I am clear-eyed about the threat that Iran poses to the Gulf and the wider Middle East."
On regional conflicts, the leaders decided on a set of common principles, including a shared recognition that there is no military solution to the region's armed civil conflicts.
“These can only be resolved through political and peaceful means, respect for all states' sovereignty and non-interference in their internal affairs contrary to international law, the need for inclusive governance in conflict-ridden societies, as well as protection of all minorities and of human rights,” said a joint communique issued at the end of the summit. statement.
The leaders committed to continue working towards a sustainable political resolution in Syria that ends the war and establishes an inclusive government that protects all ethnic and religious communities, and preserves state institutions. They agreed to increase regional pressure on the Assad regime and its backers by heightening financial disruption and economic constraints.
The GCC states and the UK further affirmed their commitment to assisting the Iraqi Government and the International Global Coalition in their fight against Daesh, including post-liberation stabilisation efforts. They encouraged the Iraqi Government to achieve genuine national reconciliation by urgently addressing the legitimate grievances of all elements of Iraqi society through the implementation of reforms, including those previously agreed, and by ensuring that all armed groups operate under the strict control of the Iraqi state.
With regard to Yemen, the GCC states and the UK emphasised the need to resolve the conflict peacefully through political dialogue and negotiations facilitated by the UN based on the GCC initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, the UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and other relevant UNSC Resolutions.
The GCC states and the UK look forward to working together on Yemen’s reconstruction - including rebuilding the economy, sea ports, and public services - once the peace process is concluded.
The leaders decided to move jointly to convince all Libyan parties to accept an inclusive power-sharing agreement under the framework of the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement according to UNSC resolutions 2259, 2278 and the Skheirat Accord, and to continue to focus on countering the terrorist presence in the country.
They strongly affirmed the necessity of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a just, lasting, comprehensive peace agreement that results in an independent and contiguous Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, based on the Arab Peace Initiative and UN resolutions.
The GCC and the United Kingdom will hold a Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and Border Security to follow up on previous efforts to cooperate on border security, countering the financing of terrorism, cyber-security, and critical infrastructure protection.
The leaders also decided to strengthen counter-terrorist work on financing, through the GCC member states and UK increasing efforts to cut off terrorist financing, including through enhanced intelligence exchange and enforcement efforts to freeze assets of individuals and entities designated under relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, especially in the region.
The GCC states and the UK will work together to counter Iran's destabilising activities in the region.
They stressed the need for Iran to engage the region according to the principles of good neighbourliness, strict non-interference in domestic affairs, and respect for territorial integrity consistent with international laws and the United Nations Charter, and for Iran to take concrete, practical steps to build trust and resolve its differences with its neighbours through peaceful means.
The GCC and the UK decided to enhance joint efforts to improve defence cooperation, as well as on maritime security and cyber-security.
They will build on existing bilateral relations and expand towards increased military cooperation to tackle current threats and fortify defences in the region through joint exercises and including maritime and border security. This includes a UK presence throughout the Gulf, including coordination through the Regional British Defence Staff to be based in Dubai.
The GCC member states and the UK will also establish a National Security Dialogue to build GCC member states' capacity to coordinate security issues more effectively, and develop a framework for a regional response to crises. This Dialogue will broaden and integrate security cooperation to include, for example, cyber, serious organized crime, and counter-extremism.
The UK expressed its readiness to support GCC efforts to diversify their economies, provide more effective governance, and adapt to the new economic challenges, by emphasizing innovation, non-oil industries, technical education and training, and services.
They pledged to work together to enhance their efforts to support refugees and fight human trafficking through supporting victims and pursuing perpetrators.
The GCC and UK will build on their long-standing co-operation to unlock the full potential of their trade and investment relationship.
Bilateral trade between the UK and GCC was worth over £30bn last year and at this summit there were announcements covering a number of key sectors, including healthcare, innovation and the knowledge economy, education, finance, defense and security.
The leaders also decided to hold a GCC-UK PPP Conference in London in the first quarter of 2017, focusing on GCC national transformation and economic diversification plans.
They agreed to meet annually in a similar high-level format, in order to advance and build upon the UK-GCC Strategic Partnership announced yesterday.
Manama/Doha: A joint summit between GCC leaders and British Prime Minister Theresa May, in Bahrain's capital Manama yesterday agreed to launch the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership to foster closer relations in all fields, including political, defence, security, and trade.
The two sides also agreed to enhance people-to-people contact, and develop collective approaches to regional issues.
The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in the summit, along with his Personal Representative H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and members of the official Qatari delegation.
Addressing the meeting, May said her country will spend over £3bn on defence in the Gulf region over the next decade, "spending more on defense in the Gulf than in any other region of the world." On the issue of Gulf security, May said: "We must also continue to confront state actors whose influence fuels instability in the region. So I want to assure you that I am clear-eyed about the threat that Iran poses to the Gulf and the wider Middle East."
On regional conflicts, the leaders decided on a set of common principles, including a shared recognition that there is no military solution to the region's armed civil conflicts.
“These can only be resolved through political and peaceful means, respect for all states' sovereignty and non-interference in their internal affairs contrary to international law, the need for inclusive governance in conflict-ridden societies, as well as protection of all minorities and of human rights,” said a joint communique issued at the end of the summit. statement.
The leaders committed to continue working towards a sustainable political resolution in Syria that ends the war and establishes an inclusive government that protects all ethnic and religious communities, and preserves state institutions. They agreed to increase regional pressure on the Assad regime and its backers by heightening financial disruption and economic constraints.
The GCC states and the UK further affirmed their commitment to assisting the Iraqi Government and the International Global Coalition in their fight against Daesh, including post-liberation stabilisation efforts. They encouraged the Iraqi Government to achieve genuine national reconciliation by urgently addressing the legitimate grievances of all elements of Iraqi society through the implementation of reforms, including those previously agreed, and by ensuring that all armed groups operate under the strict control of the Iraqi state.
With regard to Yemen, the GCC states and the UK emphasised the need to resolve the conflict peacefully through political dialogue and negotiations facilitated by the UN based on the GCC initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, the UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and other relevant UNSC Resolutions.
The GCC states and the UK look forward to working together on Yemen’s reconstruction - including rebuilding the economy, sea ports, and public services - once the peace process is concluded.
The leaders decided to move jointly to convince all Libyan parties to accept an inclusive power-sharing agreement under the framework of the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement according to UNSC resolutions 2259, 2278 and the Skheirat Accord, and to continue to focus on countering the terrorist presence in the country.
They strongly affirmed the necessity of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a just, lasting, comprehensive peace agreement that results in an independent and contiguous Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, based on the Arab Peace Initiative and UN resolutions.
The GCC and the United Kingdom will hold a Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and Border Security to follow up on previous efforts to cooperate on border security, countering the financing of terrorism, cyber-security, and critical infrastructure protection.
The leaders also decided to strengthen counter-terrorist work on financing, through the GCC member states and UK increasing efforts to cut off terrorist financing, including through enhanced intelligence exchange and enforcement efforts to freeze assets of individuals and entities designated under relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, especially in the region.
The GCC states and the UK will work together to counter Iran's destabilising activities in the region.
They stressed the need for Iran to engage the region according to the principles of good neighbourliness, strict non-interference in domestic affairs, and respect for territorial integrity consistent with international laws and the United Nations Charter, and for Iran to take concrete, practical steps to build trust and resolve its differences with its neighbours through peaceful means.
The GCC and the UK decided to enhance joint efforts to improve defence cooperation, as well as on maritime security and cyber-security.
They will build on existing bilateral relations and expand towards increased military cooperation to tackle current threats and fortify defences in the region through joint exercises and including maritime and border security. This includes a UK presence throughout the Gulf, including coordination through the Regional British Defence Staff to be based in Dubai.
The GCC member states and the UK will also establish a National Security Dialogue to build GCC member states' capacity to coordinate security issues more effectively, and develop a framework for a regional response to crises. This Dialogue will broaden and integrate security cooperation to include, for example, cyber, serious organized crime, and counter-extremism.
The UK expressed its readiness to support GCC efforts to diversify their economies, provide more effective governance, and adapt to the new economic challenges, by emphasizing innovation, non-oil industries, technical education and training, and services.
They pledged to work together to enhance their efforts to support refugees and fight human trafficking through supporting victims and pursuing perpetrators.
The GCC and UK will build on their long-standing co-operation to unlock the full potential of their trade and investment relationship.
Bilateral trade between the UK and GCC was worth over £30bn last year and at this summit there were announcements covering a number of key sectors, including healthcare, innovation and the knowledge economy, education, finance, defense and security.
The leaders also decided to hold a GCC-UK PPP Conference in London in the first quarter of 2017, focusing on GCC national transformation and economic diversification plans.
They agreed to meet annually in a similar high-level format, in order to advance and build upon the UK-GCC Strategic Partnership announced yesterday.
© The Peninsula 2016
