The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz today addressed the 37th Summit for the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful,
Praise to Allah, prayer and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, on his family and companions,

King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain,
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States,
Peace, Mercy and Blessing of Allah be Upon You,

I am pleased, at the outset of this summit, to express appreciation of King Hamad bin Isa Al- Khalifa, the government and people of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the warm hospitality and good reception. I wish all success for the King of Bahrain during his chairmanship of this session. I expressed satisfaction for what has been achieved by the competent agencies of the GCC council over the past year in accordance with mechanisms adopted by the council which aim to raise the level of cooperation and coordination, including the decision of establishing the Economic and Development Affairs Commission which began its work recently to promote joint action in the economic and development fields.

Dear brothers:
The current highly complicated circumstances in our region are obvious to everyone as well as the crises it was facing, requiring all of us to work together to confront and deal with them in a spirit of responsibility and determination and intensify efforts in order to consolidate the foundations of security and stability of our region as well as development and prosperity for our countries and peoples.

The sad situation being suffered by some Arab countries, characterized by terrorism, domestic struggle and bloodshed, is an imperative result of the alliance of terrorism, sectarianism and flagrant interference, leading to their destabilization and breach of security.

As for the situation in Yemen, efforts are being exerted to end the struggle there in what could achieve security and stability under the leadership of its legitimate government and according to the GCC initiative, outcomes of the national dialogue and UN Security Council Resolution 2216, thanks to the endeavors offered by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen.

As of the situation in Syria, we are all saddened to see what is happening there, including killings, displacement and suffering of the Syrian people, mounting pressure on the world community to intensify efforts to stop bloodshed and find a political solution guaranteeing the achievement of security and stability as well as preserving the unity and integrity of the Syrian territories.

Dear Brothers,
Despite the important achievements implemented by the GCC, we gear forward to better future that guarantees the aspirations of the GCC citizens towards more prosperity and dignified living, enhances the march of the GCC at the regional and international arenas through active foreign policies to achieve security and stability in the region and supports regional and international peace.

Finally, I wish my brother King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa every success during his current chairmanship of this session.

Walsalamu Alaykum Warahmatu Allahi Wabarakatu (May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you)