GCC commits to fight terrorism, denounces 
media campaign against Saudi Arabia

GCC Interior Ministers Restate Commitment To Fight Terrorism

The interior ministers of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have issued a statement strongly condemning terrorism and pledging unequivocal support for all efforts to combat the phenomenon. At the conclusion of their 21st conference, held in Muscat, Oman, on October 8, the ministers released a document titled the ‘Muscat Declaration on Terrorism’ that detailed their commitment to the global war on terrorism. In his address to the conference, Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz stressed the importance of unifying the efforts of organizations and governments to fight terrorism in all its forms, and counteract its effects on international peace and security.

The declaration stated that “the GCC states [Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates] in accordance with their Islamic beliefs that reject terrorism whatever its form or source, have long been aware of the danger of terrorism and have called for concerted international efforts to combat it. Given the current developments in the world today in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the United States, denounced by the GCC at that time, the GCC states confirm their firm stance of denunciation of terrorism and their pledge to combat it at all levels.”

The declaration added: “It was in accordance with this stance that they signed the Arab agreement against terrorism and endorsed the strategy on combating extremism. Moreover, work is currently underway to draft a security pact to combat terrorism within the GCC; the GCC attests to the fact that terrorism is an evil that knows no race, religion or country and categorically rejects all evil attempts seeking to link terrorism with Arabs and Muslims.

“Fully supporting international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, addressing its root causes and working to stem its financial sources, the GCC states nevertheless differentiate between terrorism and the right of peoples to struggle for their freedom and resist foreign occupation. The ministers condemn the biased media campaign against the GCC member states, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular, that is attempting to cast doubts on their moderate and balanced methods in international relations. The ministers express confidence in their countries’ ability to fight terrorism and achieve peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world at large. The GCC member states reiterate their support for every regional and international effort to combat terrorism to enable the countries and peoples of the world to live in security, stability, prosperity, peace and brotherhood.”

GCC Foreign Ministers Denounce Media Campaign Against Saudi Arabia

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries issued a statement in Jeddah in September that strongly condemned what they described as a malicious campaign launched by some segments of the Western media against Saudi Arabia. “They seek to present a distorted image of Saudi Arabia that is far from its moderate and balanced policies in its international relations and its handling of events,” the statement said.

The ministers expressed their absolute confidence in the positive role of the Kingdom and the other GCC member states in working for peace, security and prosperity in the region and in the world, and in their efforts to combat terrorism within the framework of the United Nations.

Issued at the end of two days of meetings, the statement condemned Israel for refusing to resolve the Palestinian crisis through peaceful means and stated that Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s initiative calling for normal relations between Israel and the Arab countries in exchange for full Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories, which was unanimously adopted by the League of Arab States Summit in Beirut in March, should be a cornerstone for any negotiations or serious movement aimed at reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.