GCC Summit: Starting a new chapter

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RIYADH: The GCC Summit has opened a new chapter on Gulf solidarity with a call for unity to confront challenges facing the region.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Prime Minister, highlighted the importance of strengthening GCC dialogue and commitment to unity as he headed Bahrain’s delegation at the 41st GCC Summit at Maraya Hall in AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

He was representing His Majesty King Hamad.

GCC leaders signed two documents, the AlUla Declaration, named after the city where this year’s summit was held, and a final communiqué.

The declaration marks a definitive end to the Gulf dispute with Qatar and restores full ties with Doha, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said later.

“What happened today is... the turning of the page on all points of difference and a full return of diplomatic relations,” Prince Faisal told a Press conference at the conclusion of the landmark summit.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who chaired the summit on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, said earlier that the GCC had inked an agreement that affirms “our Gulf, Arab and Islamic solidarity and stability”.

He called for unity to confront challenges facing the region, singling out “the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and its plans for sabotage and destruction”.

The special summit this year marks a new shift in relations with Qatar, whose Amir, Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived on a Qatar Airways plane and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The summit comes a day after Saudi Arabia reopened its air space and land and sea borders to Qatar.

Attending the summit were the Amir of Kuwait, Shaikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah, UAE Vice-President and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said.

Later, HRH Prince Salman attended a lunch banquet, hosted by Prince Mohammed bin Salman in honour of the delegations attending the summit.

Located in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, AlUla is known for its rocky structures, and ancient engravings. The city lies along the historic trade route linking the Arabian Peninsula, Syria and Egypt.

AlUla, which houses dozens of artefacts that date back to 900BC, is also on track to becoming the world’s largest open museum.

The Summit took place at the Maraya Concert Hall, the world’s largest mirror-clad building, according to the Guinness World Records.

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