GCC interior, defense and foreign ministers have welcomed the release of 26 Qatari nationals and two Saudi citizens who had been kidnapped in Iraq while on a hunting trip, hailing the efforts exerted to secure their release and safe return to their families.
Speaking at the end of the joint meeting in Riyadh, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said the ministers expressed their appreciation for the honorable directives of GCC leaders and their strenuous efforts to enhance the march of joint GCC work and consolidate that mechanism and maximize its achievements so as to accomplish the aspirations of GCC peoples towards more integration and cooperation.
The ministers stressed the importance of the trilateral meeting to exchange constructive visions and ideas, follow up on the march of joint GCC work, and monitor the political and security developments in the region and their repercussions on security and stability in GCC states, expressing their thanks and appreciation to GCC undersecretaries of interior, defense and foreign affairs as well as the GCC chiefs of staff and GCC general secretariat for their efforts in preparing for the trilateral meeting.
Al Zayani said the ministers reviewed a set of political, security and defense issues as well as the regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and extremist groups, and issued their directives regarding the recommendations and mechanisms that were referred to them to boost Gulf cooperation and integration. The ministers praised the international support of the Islamic coalition to combat terrorism.
The ministers voiced the determination of GCC states to carry on towards more Gulf integration on all fronts and intensify efforts to enhance the corners of the solid Gulf structure in expression of the close ties, joint history, same fate and mutual They highlighted the keenness of GCC states on building ties and extending bridges of cooperation with regional countries in a way that contributes to consolidating security, peace and expanding fields of economic cooperation, stressing the GCC states' determination to prevent foreign intervention in their domestic affairs; tampering with their national unity; stirring up sectarian strife; and supporting terrorist groups, criminal activities, and hostile media campaigns, which constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of good-neighborliness, international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The ministers expressed their pride in the high level of cooperation and integration of GCC states in joint political, defense and security work as well as the advanced stages of cooperation and joint coordination that indicate the belief of GCC states that their security and stability are indivisible. They directed to intensify efforts towards more integrative achievements in order to preserve the sovereignty, independence, security and stability of GCC states, and in defense of their gains, achievements and common interests.
They affirmed the determination and resolve of GCC states to combat terrorism and expressed their support for all actions that GCC countries take to combat terrorism and terrorist groups to preserve their security and stability, pursue criminal groups and elements, dry up terrorism's sources of funding, and fight its misguided ideas that contradict with the true teachings of Islam and its tolerant principles that preach love, harmony and cooperation and forbid aggression and bloodshed. They praised the successful efforts of the Gulf-based centers on confronting extremism and violent thought.
The GCC ministers stressed the importance of uniting efforts of the international community to combat the dangerous plague of terrorism due to its criminal and religious crimes, affirming the continued participation of GCC countries in supporting the efforts of the U.S.-led international coalition to fight the terrorist ISIS group in Syria and Iraq and across countries of the region.
The ministers stressed the continued support of GCC states for legitimacy in Yemen, and backing the efforts of the international community to end the Yemeni crisis based on the Gulf initiative, the outcomes of the national dialogue, and Security Council Resolution 2216.
They expressed satisfaction at the development and the achievements of the Arab coalition towards restoring legitimacy, hailing the exerted efforts to support Yemen's reconstruction and delivering aid to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
They also commended the strenuous efforts of King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, humanitarian work institutions and GCC red crescent associations.

Source: QNA